“Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum”
All information about the new Middle-earth film
© imago/Cinema Publishers Collection
Andy Serkis and Peter Jackson are returning as a team for a new “Lord of the Rings” film. This is already known about the new Gollum film.
Over 20 years ago, the “Lord of the Rings” trilogy thrilled audiences with its epic images in the cinema. Now fans of the Tolkien epic can look forward to more: As Warner Bros. announced on Thursday (May 9th), the first of several new “Lord of the Rings” films will be released in cinemas in 2026. The focus is on the character Gollum – played by Andy Serkins, 60. That is according to Variety already known about “The Hunt for Gollum”.
Peter Jackson returns to Middle-earth as producer
“Lord of the Rings” filmmaker Peter Jackson, 62, will once again be responsible as consulting producer for the new Gollum film, Warner Bros. announced the news on Thursday. Jackson is supported by his long-term partners, the New Zealand screenwriters Fran Walsh, 64, and Philippa Boyens, 62. The producing team will be “involved every step of the way,” said Warner Bros CEO David Zaslav.
According to him, the project is currently in the early stages of script development. As writers, Walsh and Boyens, as well as Boyen’s daughter Phoebe Gittins and New Zealand author Arty Papageorgiou, are responsible for “exploring untold storylines”.
Andy Serkis stars and directs
Andy Serkis will be responsible for the success of the new “Lord of the Rings” story with the working title “The Hunt for Gollum” in a dual role. On the one hand, the actor will slip back into his iconic role as a degenerate hobbit, and on the other hand, he will direct the project. Serkis is also apparently forming another producing team with Jackson’s manager Ken Kamis and Jonathan Cavedish, 65, from The Imaginarium.
“We are very honored that original Lord of the Rings creators Jackson, Walsh and Boyens have agreed to partner on this film,” said new studio heads at Warner Bros. subsidiary New Line Cinema, Mike De Luca. 58, and Pam Abdy, 50, in a statement on Thursday. “With Andy joining as director of ‘Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum,’ we continue an important commitment to excellence that is a true hallmark of how we all move forward and further contribute to ‘Lord of the Rings’ – want to make cinema history.”
Jackson, Walsh and Boyens added: “It is an honor and a privilege to travel back to Middle-earth with our good friend and collaborator Andy Serkis, who has a score to settle with the stinking Gollum! As lifelong fans of the vast mythology by Professor Tolkien, we are proud to be working with Mike De Luca, Pam Abdy and the entire team at Warner Bros. on another epic adventure!”
Serkis is so excited about the new Gollum adventure
“Yesssssssssssss, my darling,” said Serkis. “It is time once again to venture into the unknown with my dear friends, the extraordinary and incomparable Guardians of Middle-earth – Peter, Fran and Philippa.”
The original “Lord of the Rings” trilogy (2001-2003), directed by Jackson, grossed nearly $3 billion worldwide. Jackson’s follow-up trilogy, based on Tolkien’s The Hobbit, achieved similar box office results (2012 – 2014).
The original trilogy starred Elijah Wood, 43, Ian McKellen, 84, Liv Tyler, 46, Viggo Mortensen, 65, Orlando Bloom, 47, Sean Astin, 53, and Cate Blanchett, 54. The film crew was nominated for 30 Oscars and took home 17 trophies, including Best Picture for 2003’s The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King.