Warner Bros. has announced a new Lord of the Rings feature film set to release in 2026 titled “Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum”. The film will focus on the character of Gollum, with Andy Serkis set to reprise his role as Gollum and also direct the movie. This marks the first LOTR film not directed by Peter Jackson, with Serkis expressing his excitement to collaborate with the team in New Zealand.
Gollum has appeared in both the original LOTR trilogy and Peter Jackson’s Hobbit trilogy to some extent, making this his third slate of projects. Additionally, a second LOTR film separate from “The Hunt for Gollum” is said to be in development. The franchise has been expanding in various directions recently, with Amazon investing $1 billion into a LOTR TV show called “Rings of Power” focusing on young Galadriel and Elrond, and at least four more seasons planned.
In the gaming space, a Lord of the Rings game titled “The Lord of the Rings: Gollum” was released in 2023 and received poor reviews, being deemed the worst game of the year with a 33 Metacritic rating. However, this will not be the last fans see of Gollum, as Serkis is set to bring the character back to the big screen in the upcoming film. Warner Bros. sees the potential for more successful LOTR films, considering the global box office success of the original trilogy and The Hobbit films, each earning between $950-$1 billion.
Despite initial skepticism about a film centered on Gollum, fans are looking forward to Serkis’ portrayal and direction. Serkis has previously directed films such as the Venom sequel and the 2018 movie Mowgli, showcasing his talent behind the camera. More details about the film and a potential second LOTR movie are expected to be revealed in the future, generating further interest among fans and audiences.
With Warner Bros. returning to the beloved Lord of the Rings franchise, the announcement of a new film has sparked excitement and curiosity among fans. The decision to focus on Gollum as the central character may be unexpected, but the involvement of Andy Serkis as both actor and director is promising. As the production of “Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum” progresses, fans eagerly await more updates and details about the upcoming film and the future of the franchise.
