All 4 Characters Confirmed for the Next Lord of the Rings Movie (#1 Could Break the Timeline)

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The Lord of the Rings films are hoping to become a major force in cinemas again in 2027, and are bringing back some well-known talent to help. The franchise was incredibly successful in the early 2000s and again in the 2010s. Peter Jackson’s original Lord of the Rings trilogy earned an average of $987 million worldwide, received rave reviews, and won numerous awards, including 11 Academy Awards for *Return of the King*. While *The Hobbit* trilogy didn’t receive the same level of critical acclaim, it was also a huge commercial success, averaging $979 million at the box office.

The 2020s have been more challenging for the franchise. While Amazon invested a significant $1 billion in the streaming series *The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power*, it received mixed reviews and hasn’t been a complete success. The recent animated film, *The War of the Rohirrim*, also underperformed, earning only $20.7 million at the box office and receiving negative reviews (48% on Rotten Tomatoes). Now, the franchise seems to be returning to its roots with *The Hunt for Gollum*, a new story set during the events of *The Fellowship of the Ring* that will feature familiar characters.

4) Gollum

Gollum is returning for his own movie, and Andy Serkis is involved more than ever! He’ll not only reprise his role performing the motion capture for Gollum, but he’s also directing the film. Because the story will be told from Gollum’s point of view, Serkis – the original actor who brought the character to life – is the perfect person to tell it.

Even though Gollum has lost the One Ring, he still holds crucial information about its location. This sets off a desperate search – a hunt – across Middle-earth, as both good and evil forces try to find him and learn what he knows. Because the story is largely told from Gollum’s perspective, we might see familiar enemies, and even heroes, portrayed in a new light. While appearances by characters like Sauron, Saruman, and the Witch-King haven’t been confirmed, they remain a possibility.

3) Gandalf

The events of *The Hunt of Gollum* are only hinted at in J.R.R. Tolkien’s *The Lord of the Rings*, but Gandalf plays a key role, along with the creature Gollum (formerly known as Sméagol). As a still-grey wizard, Gandalf understands Gollum’s importance and the danger he poses if the enemy were to find him. That’s why Gandalf leads the search for Gollum while simultaneously investigating the One Ring elsewhere.

Ian McKellen has confirmed he’ll be involved in *The Hunt for Gollum*, but hasn’t said if he’ll be playing Gandalf again. Given it’s been over 20 years since *Fellowship of the Ring* came out, most fans would assume – and hope – that he will. He was perfectly suited for the role then, and remains the best choice now, especially since he’s expressed willingness to return.

2) Aragorn

Viggo Mortensen, a key member of the original *Lord of the Rings* cast, might return for the new film, *The Hunt for Gollum*. He’s previously said he’d consider it if the script was strong and fit his character’s story. With Andy Serkis directing and original filmmakers Peter Jackson, Philippa Boyens, and Fran Walsh producing (and co-writing), plus the possibility of other original cast members joining, it seems likely Mortensen will be involved.

Aragorn plays a crucial role in the story, and that’s why his involvement is so important. He’s the one Gandalf asks to find Gollum, meaning the search for the creature wouldn’t happen without him. After Gollum himself, Aragorn and Gandalf should be the central characters in the movie, and it would be interesting to see the story unfold from their perspectives.

Before we reveal our top pick, here’s a look at some characters from *The Lord of the Rings* who might show up in *The Hunt for Gollum*.

  • Legolas
  • Sauron
  • Saruman
  • The Witch-King
  • Galadriel
  • Elrond
  • Thranduil

1) Frodo

In addition to Ian McKellen returning as Gandalf, he also surprised fans by announcing that Frodo will appear in the movie. While Frodo isn’t central to the main plot of *The Hunt for Gollum* – unlike characters like Aragorn and Gandalf – he’ll likely have a smaller role. The story will take place between Bilbo’s party and Gandalf’s return to the Shire. Frodo might be used to provide context at the beginning or end of the film, helping audiences understand where this story fits within the larger narrative.

This could potentially change the timeline of *The Fellowship of the Ring* movie. The book establishes a 17-year gap between certain events, which is significant, although Frodo doesn’t physically age because of the Ring’s power. The movie, however, implies this gap is only a few months. If the show uses Frodo’s story to connect different parts of the narrative, it might need to adjust the events of *Fellowship* to match the 17-year timeframe. While it’s not certain yet, it looks like we’ll be revisiting the Shire and seeing Frodo again, possibly with Elijah Wood reprising his role.

The Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum is slated for release on December 17th, 2027.

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2025-09-16 20:45