Andy Serkis first got involved in The Lord of the Rings when playing Gollum in Peter Jackson's movies. Now, he's not only returning as Gollum, but also directing the franchise's next movie: The Hunt for Gollum.
Serkis has established himself as a terrific director in recent years, helming such movies as Breathe, Venom, Mowgli: Legend of the Jungle, and Animal Farm. There's no doubt that The Hunt for Gollum will be his biggest challenge yet.
Andy Serkis heads to New Zealand to prep for The Hunt for Gollum
Set for release in 2027, Serkis will head out to New Zealand this Saturday (the home for all things Middle-earth) to begin the groundwork for what will be an enormous production of The Hunt for Gollum.
"We’re going down to start prep and working on it, because I’m directing," he revealed to Metro this week at a London screening of The Girlfriend (starring House of the Dragon's Olivia Cooke). "I’m thrilled to return to the family that I’ve loved working with for many years, and a character that I cannot escape from."
So far, in addition to the titular character, Ian McKellen has confirmed that both Gandalf and Frodo will appear in The Hunt for Gollum. "I'll tell you two secrets about the casting: There's a character in the movie called Frodo, and there's a character in the movie called Gandalf," McKellen teased at the For the Love of Fantasy fan event in London earlier this month, also sharing that filming should begin in May 2026.
The Hunt for Gollum takes place after Bilbo Baggins's birthday party in The Shire, but before the Fellowship enters the Mines of Moria. It tells a grey area in the story from the point of view of fan-favorite creature Gollum, who is losing his mind after losing the One Ring to Bilbo all those years prior. Gandalf fears that Gollum may spill key information about the One Ring to Sauron, and so he sends out a search party to locate the creature.
Right now, there are no cast confirmations for the movie beyond Serkis. With the story they're telling, there are tons of opportunities for cameos. Franchise stars Orlando Bloom (Legolas) and Viggo Mortensen (Aragorn) are interested in reprising their roles, among others.
Only time will tell who shows up. First and foremost, it needs to be a good movie, not an excuse for endless fan service.
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The Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum is slated for release on Dec. 27, 2027. Are you excited? Tell us in the comments down below!