Original The Lord of the Rings cast member and acting legend, Ian McKellen, has now revealed some major news regarding the upcoming spin-off movie, The Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum. The prequel is all set to be helmed by Gollum himself, Andy Serkis, with McKellen also revealing when the fantasy movie will begin filming.
During a recent fan event (via @Gollumgram), Ian McKellen put (at least some) of the speculation regarding which original characters would return to bed as he stood up to announce that, first off, both Gandalf and Frodo will feature in The Hunt for Gollum, and that the project will start production in May 2026.
“It’s going to start filming in May. It’s going to be directed by Gollum, and it’s all about Gollum.
But I’ll tell you two secrets about the casting. There’s a character in the movie called Frodo and another character called Gandalf, and apart from that, my lips are sealed.”
While McKellen does not confirm whether Elijah Wood will return as Frodo, thus reuniting the actors and their respective characters after 23 years. The actor responded positively to the idea of a return to Middle-earth last year, saying, “It would be pretty incredible. I have to say, any return to New Zealand to work with those individuals within the context of that world would be…jumping back into a world that’s so beloved and means so much to me. So yeah, it would be awesome.” So, it’s no doubt safe to assume that Wood will reprise the role and tracks with the theory that The Hunt for Gollum will be bookended with Gandalf telling Frodo the story.
‘The Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum’ Is Due to Hit Theaters on December 17, 2027
Gollum grins in The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the RingNew Line Cinema
With a theatrical release date of December 17, 2027, for The Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum, Warner Bros. Pictures and New Line Cinema are no doubt hoping to replicate the monumental success of Peter Jackson’s original Lord of the Rings trilogy, which went on to receive critical acclaim, a multi-billion-dollar box office, and Academy Awards glory.
The Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum will be a prequel, taking place during the first act of 2001’s The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring, and follows Gandalf as he sets the ranger Aragorn with an important task: finding Gollum before he can reveal the whereabouts of the One Ring to the villainous Sauron.
The Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum is being written by Fran Walsh, Philippa Boyens, Phoebe Gittins, and Arty Papageorgiou, and sees motion-capture maestro Andy Serkis return to both direct and star as the title character. Peter Jackson is also on board as a producer, with the filmmaker saying of the project previously, “It is an honour and a privilege to travel back to Middle-earth with our good friend and collaborator, Andy Serkis, who has unfinished business with that Stinker – Gollum!”