Film director Andy Serkis offers a hopeful progress report for his forthcoming project titled “The Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum“. In conversation with Collider, primarily to promote his new film “Animal Farm“, Serkis spoke about revisiting Middle-earth. Though acknowledging that the creative team is still in its initial stages, he revealed that preparatory work will start shortly before primary filming kicks off in early 2026. He’s eager to return to New Zealand for the movie shoot, anticipating that it will bear a similar mood and aesthetic to the original “Lord of the Rings” trilogy.
Andy Serkis shared that they’re just starting out with the project, having discussed the film for about a year now. In the coming months, they will enter a preparation phase. Shooting is expected to begin in early to mid-2022, followed by however long it takes to complete, given the movie’s size. The release date is set for December 2027. Serkis can hardly wait to reunite with his New Zealand crew again for a project that promises to be both unexpected and fitting with the trilogy’s tone. They are delving deeper into the character previously known as Smeagol, but more commonly recognized as Gollum.
According to Serkis’ hints, it seems that “The Hunt for Gollum” has been under production for quite some time now. Recently, Warner Bros. pushed back its release date to December 2027, providing more time for Serkis and his team to finish up the project. At present, Serkis is the only confirmed actor returning to his famous character of Gollum. The filmmakers are considering inviting Ian McKellen and Viggo Mortensen back as Gandalf and Aragorn respectively, if everything aligns correctly in the future.
The story titled “The Hunt for Gollum” unfolds as a standalone tale, taking place concurrently with the happenings from “The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring“. This narrative follows Gandalf’s pursuit to locate Gollum upon learning that Bilbo had the One Ring. As of now, “The Hunt for Gollum” is one of the many spin-off stories from the Lord of the Rings universe under development. Additionally, it has been hinted that another unannounced project is also being worked on by Philippa Boyens.
The idea of spinoffs can sometimes be a delicate balance. While one might add interesting layers to the original storyline, another could seem excess or unnecessary. For instance, the “Lord of the Rings” trilogy is a highly acclaimed film series from this century, and altering what many perceive as a flawless narrative carries risks, especially after the polarized response to the “Hobbit” trilogy. Consequently, some fans might be apprehensive about another journey back to Middle-earth. However, it seems that Serkis is taking the right approach, by maintaining the essence of the “Lord of the Rings” trilogy and delving deeper into the character of Gollum, a move that could prove captivating for viewers. Previously, Gollum was a well-liked secondary character; this opportunity allows further exploration of this mysterious figure, enhancing an already compelling franchise element.
Andy Serkis clearly possesses a deep comprehension of the character Gollum and is deeply invested in the content. Given his previous involvement with the Lord of the Rings saga, it’s unlikely he would agree to a project like The Hunt for Gollum unless he believed it would be a valuable extension of the series. The Hobbit trilogy faced some production challenges, such as Guillermo del Toro leaving his director role and the sudden decision to extend the series from two to three movies. Serkis appears to be meticulously preparing and seems to have a well-thought-out strategy before he even begins filming. Here’s hoping that The Hunt for Gollum marks a comeback for the franchise when it releases in a few years.
Read More
2025-06-11 17:45