The Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum Kicks Off Filming in First Teaser
Andy Serkis reprises his role as Gollum in the first behind-the-scenes teaser
With "The Hunt for Gollum," a new "Lord of the Rings" movie is set to hit theaters as early as 2027. The production has now reached its next milestone – the cameras are rolling! Warner Bros. announced this with a first teaser that offers a behind-the-scenes look. In it, we also see director and Gollum actor Andy Serkis slipping back into his iconic role.
The clip shows Serkis on the first day of filming in his familiar motion-capture suit. He prepares for the first scene, strikes a Gollum pose, and says in his Gollum voice: "And Action!" The clip then offers a glimpse of a filming location in New Zealand. Set to Howard Shore's "Lord of the Rings" score, we finally see the logo for "The Hunt for Gollum." You can watch the full teaser here:
The Cast of The Hunt for Gollum
In addition to Serkis as Gollum, the other main cast members for "The Hunt for Gollum" were announced some time ago. This includes some familiar faces: Elijah Wood will return as Frodo, and Ian McKellen will also reprise his role as Gandalf. As in the "Hobbit" films, the Elven King Thranduil will be portrayed by Lee Pace.
Unlike Frodo and Gandalf, however, Aragorn has been recast: Jamie Dornan will play the protagonist. As Aragorn (alias Strider), Dornan has big shoes to fill. His predecessor Viggo Mortensen's portrayal was one of the absolute fan favorites in Peter Jackson's "Lord of the Rings" films. Dornan is known, among other things, for the "Fifty Shades of Grey" series and the crime series "The Fall."
Anya Taylor-Joy also takes on an important role as Seren, a Sindar elf from the Woodland Realm. She is described as "a trusted and lethal agent of King Thranduil", according to the U.S. industry portal Deadline. Seren is not a character from the books by "Lord of the Rings" creator J. R. R. Tolkien. Instead, the character was created specifically for the new film. Warner Bros. has already shared a first look at Seren via social media.
And another big name from Hollywood has been signed on for "The Hunt for Gollum." Kate Winslet will play the character Marigol. Specific details about the character are not yet known. However, according to reports, the "Titanic" star is set to appear as the lead actress. In addition, Leo Woodall has been cast as Halvard.
The Hunt for Gollum Hits Theaters
A release date for "The Hunt for Gollum" has already been set. However, we'll need to be patient for a little while longer—after all, filming has only just begun. The new Middle-earth movie is set to hit theaters on December 17, 2027.
Another Lord of the Rings Movie: Shadow of the Past
But that's not all: another "Lord of the Rings" film is already in the works. We're talking about a project with the working title "The Lord of the Rings: Shadow of the Past." Late-night host Stephen Colbert is co-developing this new Middle-earth adventure. Warner Bros. announced the project on social media, sharing a clip of a conversation between Colbert and "Lord of the Rings" director Peter Jackson in which they discussed plans for "Shadow of the Past."
What is "Shadow of the Past" about?
In addition to Colbert, Jackson, and Boyens, Fran Walsh is also said to be involved in the new film. This means Colbert will be collaborating with the trio responsible for the "Lord of the Rings" and "Hobbit" film trilogies. Details about the story have already been revealed.
Apparently, the plot of "The Lord of the Rings: Shadow of the Past" picks up some time after the events of the original trilogy. Fourteen years have now passed since Frodo's departure. Sam, Merry, and Pippin look back on the first steps of their adventure. Meanwhile, Sam's daughter Elanor discovers a long-kept secret and sets out to find out why the War of the Ring was nearly lost before it had even begun.
The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power
However, the project is still in the development phase and currently has no release date. But before "Lord of the Rings" fans get to see "The Hunt for Gollum" or "Shadow of the Past," they can look forward to more content in the form of a series. The third season of "The Rings of Power" premieres on November 11, 2026, on Prime Video. A panel for the Amazon series has been announced at the upcoming Comic-Con 2026. Perhaps we'll get the first trailer for the new season.
