The Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum Delayed (but There’s Good News)

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Andy Serkis is set to revisit Middle-earth, this time as both director and star in the upcoming film “The Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum.” However, fans will have to be patient as the release date has been pushed back from 2026 to 2027. In a recent interview with “The Direct,” Serkis gave an update on the project, explaining that the film is still in its early development stages and there are several months of pre-production work left before shooting can begin.

Indeed, it’s not yet 2026; the initial plan was for December 2026. However, Serkis mentioned that it will actually be December 2027. At present, we are just starting the writing phase. We’ll move on to preparation later this year, which typically requires about half a year. After that, filming will take place in the following year. This timeline leads us to the projected release date of December 2027.

In May 2024, it was initially revealed that a movie titled “The Hunt for Gollum,” based on “The Lord of the Rings,” would be released. While specifics about the plot are being tightly guarded, it’s anticipated that the film will showcase Gandalf’s pursuit of the One Ring following his departure from Bilbo’s birthday celebration in “The Fellowship of the Ring.” Producers are hoping to see Ian McKellen and Viggo Mortensen reprise their characters from the Lord of the Rings trilogy, although only Andy Serkis has been officially confirmed so far for the cast.

It appears that “The Hunt for Gollum” might not be a standalone production from Warner Bros., as it’s hinted that there could be another live-action Lord of the Rings movie in the works. Philippa Boyens, who is working on and producing “The Hunt for Gollum,” has revealed this information. Details about this potential second film are being kept confidential, but Boyens mentioned that Gandalf is a character that’s being considered in various ideas being brainstormed.

With the existing creative team on board, “The Hunt for Gollum” could prove to be an engaging sequel that enhances the already celebrated Lord of the Rings trilogy. While some enthusiasts may feel disheartened by the delay in its release, taking this extra time will likely improve the production’s quality. Andy Serkis is fully conscious of the profound impact this franchise has on many and aims to make “The Hunt for Gollum” a worthy continuation. Since Warner Bros. plans to create more Lord of the Rings films following this project, it’s crucial that “The Hunt for Gollum” receives positive critical and commercial reception. Hurrying the release could lead to the same shortcomings as seen in The Hobbit trilogy.

Andy Serkis has another important project coming up, as he’s set to reprise his role as Alfred Pennyworth in Matt Reeves’ upcoming film “The Batman Part II.” The production of this movie has faced several delays, and it is now scheduled to start at the end of the year. If the script for “The Hunt for Gollum” was already completed, adjustments might be necessary to fit Andy Serkis’ work on the Batman sequel into his schedule. As things stand, it looks like he can manage the pre-production duties for “The Hunt for Gollum” before moving onto “The Batman Part II” later this year. Once that project is done, he’ll be ready to start filming again in Middle-earth.

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2025-02-27 18:11