From The Rings of Power to The War of Rohirrim, whenever another Middle-earth project is unveiled, there's always a certain amount of apprehension. But in the case of The Hunt for Gollum, many fans are particularly excited. Directed by Gollum actor Andy Serkis and executive produced by The Lord of the Rings trilogy Peter Jackson himself, the upcoming flick feels like a long-awaited homecoming for the beloved franchise.
Currently, Serkis is the only confirmed cast member for the movie, reprising his iconic portrayal of Gollum. Nothing further has been officially announced in regard to castings, though Ian McKellan may have prematurely revealed that both Gandalf and Frodo will appear in the film. Given the nature of the plot, which is set after Bilbo’s 111th birthday party and before the Fellowship enters the Mines of Moria, there's plenty of room to bring back original cast members.
The movie, based on Tolkien's appendices, chronicles Aragorn and Gandalf's pursuit of Gollum to keep him from spilling the One Ring’s secret to the dark forces of Mordor.
Since the project was announced, numerous members of the original cast have expressed interest (even if it's only fleeting interest) in returning. For instance, Viggo Mortensen (Aragorn) is open to reprise his role, as are Ian McKellen (Gandalf) and Orlando Bloom (Legolas).
As for Frodo himself, Elijah Wood, the 44-year-old actor recently revealed that he's read the script, and praised the creative forces behind the project. "I know a great deal about it," Wood told IGN. "I've read it [the script]. It's really good. There are some wonderful people involved. The thing that is so exciting is that it is really getting the creative band back together."
Given the creative forces behind The Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum, it feels like a labor of love as opposed to a Hollywood cash grab. All the right people are involved. "The brain trust behind Lord of the Rings, Fran, Peter, Philippa, they are heavily involved," he explained. "And then, the same production designers. It is going to be shot in New Zealand. So, it is going to carry with it such continuity with so many people who are a part of Lord of the Rings, and I am really excited about that. It feels like getting that old machine up and running again with all of the right people."
Of course, Wood didn't comment on whether he'll be returning; in fairness, we wouldn't expect him to. I'd be shocked if there weren't any surprise cameos involved. But for now, we'll wait until The Hunt for Gollum opens on December 17, 2027.