Warner Bros. has announced the development of new Lord of the Rings films, rekindling the magic of Middle-earth with the upcoming The Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum and another new project.
The Hunt for Gollum, directed by Andy Serkis (who famously portrayed Gollum in the originals), is creating a buzz with the possibility of familiar faces such as Orlando Bloom and Viggo Mortensen expected to return. One of the said faces is acting legend Sir Ian McKellen, who portrayed the beloved wizard Gandalf in every Lord of the Rings film.

Amidst excitement and speculation, a recent clarification was needed as McKellen suggested that The Hunt for Gollum would be released as two films. Screenwriter Philippa Boyens, in an interview with Empire, corrected the misunderstanding, confirming that the film will be a single instalment. “I can tell you definitively it isn’t two films! That was a genuine misunderstanding that happened because we’ve begun to work, conceptually, on two different live-action films. The first being The Hunt For Gollum, the second one still to be confirmed,” Boyens explained.
“It’s quite an intense story, which falls after the birthday party of Bilbo and before the Mines Of Moria,” Boyens shared, “It’s a specific chunk of incredible untold story, told through the perspective of this incredible creature.”
Boyens hinted at McKellen’s involvement in two potential projects, sparking excitement about his return to the iconic role. “We’re playing around with a number of ideas, but most of those ideas do include Gandalf. So Gandalf would potentially return for two live-action films.” McKellen’s participation is still under wraps, but his presence would undeniably add a nostalgic appeal to the new films.

In addition to the live-action films, Boyens hinted at potential expansions into animation, citing the upcoming anime feature The Lord of the Rings: The War Of The Rohirrim as a test for further animated ventures in the Tolkien universe. “We have an absolute banger of a second film that would just be incredible as an anime. But let’s see if there’s an appetite for it,” she said.
Development for The Hunt for Gollum is ongoing, with the details of the second live-action film still to be confirmed. However, the involvement of characters like Gandalf suggests that the new stories will remain closely tied to the timeline of the original trilogy, rather than branching into the broader history explored in Amazon Prime Video‘s The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power.
With Andy Serkis stepping into the director’s role, The Hunt for Gollum is set to bring a fresh yet faithful perspective to the beloved universe. Fans of the franchise have much to look forward to as Warner Bros. continues to explore and expand the epic saga that has captured the hearts of audiences around the world.