"Lord of the Rings: Gollum Hunt Premieres December 2027"

Warner Bros. and New Line Cinema have exciting news for fans of Middle-earth: The Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum is slated to hit theaters on December 17, 2027. This announcement places the film's premiere over two years away, marking a delay from the previously announced 2026 plan. Despite the wait, fantasy enthusiasts are already planning how to celebrate this cinematic event during the holiday season of 2027.

The project is being helmed by none other than Andy Serkis, acclaimed for directing Venom: Let There Be Carnage and Mowgli: Legend of the Jungle. Serkis is no stranger to the world of J.R.R. Tolkien, having portrayed the iconic character Gollum in both the original The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit trilogies, as well as Caesar in the Planet of the Apes trilogy. Fans will be thrilled to know that Serkis will not only direct but also reprise his role as Gollum, bringing his deep understanding of the character to life both behind and in front of the camera.

Joining Serkis are some familiar names from the Middle-earth universe. Peter Jackson, Fran Walsh, Philippa Boyens, and Zane Weiner are on board as producers. The screenplay is being crafted by Walsh, Boyens, Phoebe Gittins, and Arty Papageorgiou. Last year, Jackson teased some plot details, hinting that the film will delve into the unexplored pasts of beloved characters. "We really want to explore [Gollum's] backstory and delve into those parts of his journey we didn't have time to cover in the earlier films," Jackson remarked. He also mentioned that the film will draw inspiration directly from J.R.R. Tolkien's works.

The Lord of the Rings Movies in (Chronological) Order

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As Warner Bros. continues to expand the cinematic universe of The Lord of the Rings, The Hunt for Gollum and potential future films are expected to feature other returning characters. Gandalf, played by Ian McKellen, is one name expected to appear. Philippa Boyens hinted to Empire last October that Gandalf could feature in up to two live-action films, exciting fans with the possibility of seeing McKellen reprise his role.

The Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum is now set to release three Decembers from now. While the wait may be long, fans can stay engaged with Middle-earth through Amazon Prime Video's The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power, which has been confirmed to return for Season 3 earlier this year.