The Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum is Delayed

Disappointing news from the world of Middle-earth: The latest film in the fantasy franchise, "The Hunt for Gollum", was originally scheduled for a release in 2026. As the portal TheDirect has learned from Gollum actor Andy Serkis, this date cannot be met.

According to Serkis, they are currently only at the beginning of the writing process. In the course of 2025, they want to make all the preparations so that filming can begin in 2026. The cinema release date has been postponed by one year compared to the previous plan. Instead of December 2026, December 2027 is now planned for the new adventure from Middle-earth.

The film title "The Hunt for Gollum" already gives a first indication of the plot. According to initial theories, the film will probably be set largely parallel to the beginning of "The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring". At the center of the action is Gollum, who is being sought by several factions due to his knowledge of the whereabouts of the ring.

It is certain that Andy Serkis will once again slip into the iconic role of Gollum. The actor already portrayed Gollum in the "Lord of the Rings" and "Hobbit" trilogies using the performance capture technique.

Andy Serkis will also be directing the film. The screenplay is written by Philippa Boyens and Fran Walsh, among others. Together with Peter Jackson, they wrote all the screenplays for the "Lord of the Rings" and "Hobbit" films. Jackson also directed them, of course. For "The Hunt for Gollum", he is "only" involved as a producer this time.

The story of Gollum in "The Hobbit" and "The Lord of the Rings" films

Gollum, one of the most striking characters in J.R.R. Tolkien's work, has played an important role in Peter Jackson's film adaptations. The character appears in both trilogies, in "The Hobbit" (2012-2014) and "The Lord of the Rings" (2001-2003). Chronologically, Gollum's journey begins in "The Hobbit" trilogy, but is particularly central in "The Lord of the Rings".

The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey

In the first film adaptation, "The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey", young Bilbo Baggins meets Gollum when he and the dwarves get lost in the caves of the Misty Mountains. Gollum has been living there in isolation for many years and has completely retreated into the shadows of his former existence.

In this portrayal, Gollum is not yet necessarily the conflicted character we later meet in "The Lord of the Rings", but a predominantly instinct-driven and dangerous being who is almost exclusively obsessed with the ring. The movie shows Gollum as a disturbed character who is in the clutches of the ring.

A central element of the encounter between Bilbo and Gollum is the famous riddle game that Gollum poses in the book and also finds its place in the film. Here, for the first time, the character is shown not only as a threat, but also as a tragic figure who has been alienated from his humanity by the Ring. In the course of this scene, Bilbo finds the ring, which triggers the later plot in "The Lord of the Rings".

However, Gollum plays a subordinate role in "The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug" and "The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies". It is only in the Lord of the Rings films that he becomes more of a focus of the story again.

Gollum in "The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring"

The story of Gollum is developed further in "The Lord of the Rings" and reaches its most emotional and complex form in this trilogy. In "The Fellowship of the Ring", the character first appears in Peter Jackson's 2001 film adaptation. However, he is more of a promise for the films to come. We rarely see Gollum, but he is often mentioned, which hints at his importance for the films to come.

Gollum in "The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers"

In "The Two Towers", Gollum is the central companion of Frodo and Sam on their journey to Mordor. In this part of the story, he is both a help and a threat, as he can provide valuable information but is also constantly driven by his greed for the ring. His torn personality becomes apparent: there are always moments when the almost lovable part of Gollum, dominated by Sméagol, comes to the fore, only to be displaced again by the malevolent "Gollum" personality, driven by greed and hatred.

The relationship between Frodo and Gollum is characterized by trust and mistrust, and a complex dynamic develops in which Frodo increasingly struggles with Gollum. The character becomes particularly interesting because Gollum reveals his torn identity more and more during this phase, which reinforces the tragedy of his existence.

Gollum in "The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King"

"The Return of the King" brings the story of Gollum to a dramatic climax. Right at the beginning, Gollum plays a crucial role in which we are told the character's backstory. He was once known as the hobbit Sméagol, but was corrupted by the power of the ring and committed murder.

In "The Return of the King", Gollum is completely dominated by his obsession with the ring and tries to reclaim it. Gollum betrays Frodo and lures him and Sam into a trap. In his final scene, Gollum destroys the ring, but not as Frodo had planned. Gollum falls into Mount Doom together with the ring, which destroys it.

This makes Gollum one of the most tragic characters in "The Lord of the Rings". We are curious to see what else "The Hunt for Gollum" can tell us about the character.