Andy Serkis has confirmed that The Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum will only hit theatres in December 2027 – a full year after its initial release window, owing to extensive planning and visual effects work needed to bring this ambitious project to life.
Speaking at Fan Expo Vancouver 2025, the actor explained, “We are right at the beginning of the writing process. We will be prepping later this year. Prep takes a good chunk of time, six or seven months, and then we will be shooting next year. So, it backs into that December 2027 release date.”
The mystery surrounding The Hunt for Gollum has sparked intense speculation among fans. Many believe it could be a prequel that explores Gollum’s first encounter with Gandalf, a story hinted at in The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King. This potential plot point aligns with comments from screenwriter Philippa Boyens, who revealed, “We’re playing around with a number of ideas, but most of those ideas do include Gandalf.” This suggests that Gandalf will play a significant role in the film, possibly setting the stage for a gripping narrative that delves into the early interactions between these iconic characters in the epic saga.
Sir Ian McKellen, who portrayed Gandalf in Peter Jackson’s adaptations, has been approached to reprise his role.
“Well, all I know is that they called me up and said that these films were going to happen, mainly be about Gollum, Andy Serkis, who played Gollum, is going to direct, and there would be a script arriving some time in the new year,” he said at an appearance on This Morning last September. “That’s next year. And then I’ll judge whether I want to go back.”
The 85-year-old added, “But I would. I would love to go back to New Zealand, number one. And I also don’t like the idea of anybody else playing Gandalf.”
The plot is expected to delve into the story mentioned in The Fellowship of the Ring, where Gandalf instructs Aragorn to hunt down and capture Gollum before he reveals information about the One Ring to Sauron. This narrative provides a compelling backdrop to explore the dynamics between Gandalf, Aragorn, and Gollum, as well as the broader race against Sauron’s forces to find the One Ring.
While Gollum will undoubtedly be a central character in The Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum , fans remain excited about the potential for the film to dive into the adventures of those hunting him, offering a fresh avenue for untold stories and characters within Middle-earth.
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