Filming is underway for The Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum, with Warner Bros. recently releasing the first set photos. These images offer fans a look at the production, including scenes set in the iconic Shire. The studio shared the behind-the-scenes material on TikTok to coincide with Hobbit Day, which is celebrated on September 22.
The photos depict the idyllic hobbit homeland, showcasing hobbits engaged in daily activities. Among the scenes are directors at work, the transport of large pumpkins, and hobbits observing ducks. These images evoke the familiar charm of the Shire as seen in the original film series.
A notable photograph features the back of a hobbit figure, presumed to be Frodo, entering a hobbit hole. Elijah Wood is reprising his role as Frodo Baggins for the film. To maintain continuity with his younger appearance from the original trilogy, digital de-aging effects will be employed, despite Wood's current age of 45.
Several cast members from Peter Jackson's original Lord of the Rings trilogy are returning. Andy Serkis is directing and reprising his role as Gollum, and Ian McKellen is expected to return as Gandalf. New additions to the cast include Anya Taylor-Joy as Seren and Kate Winslet as Marigol. Jamie Dornan will portray Strider, known later as Aragorn, and Leo Woodall will play Halvard. Lee Pace is also set to reprise his role as Thranduil, having previously appeared in The Hobbit film series.
The Hunt for Gollum is expected to explore the narrative gap between Bilbo's 111th birthday and Gandalf's subsequent return to the Shire, a period detailed in the opening chapters of Tolkien's The Fellowship of the Ring but omitted from the 2001 film adaptation. This part of the story involves Gandalf tasking Aragorn with locating Gollum to ascertain the origins of Bilbo's ring and determine if it is indeed the One Ring sought by Sauron.
The Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum is scheduled for theatrical release on December 17, 2027. This date places it in direct competition with Marvel Studios' Avengers: Secret Wars, potentially creating a cinematic event similar to the