New Lord of the Rings movie is on the way with an original cast member returning
Familiar face will return for new Middle Earth adventure
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.A fan favourite Lord of the Rings character is returning in a brand new film produced by Peter Jackson.
Ahead of season two of Prime Video series The Rings of Power, it’s been announced that the director of the original trilogy, released in 2001 and 2003, will collaborate on the project, which will focus on Andy Serkis’s Gollum – and be directed by Serkis.
It’s being made under the working title Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum and it will be the first of a series of new films, set within Middle Earth, planned for release in the next decade and beyond.
According to Warner Bros Discovery CEO David Zaslav, Jackson, alongside producing partners Fran Walsh and Philippa Boyens, “will be involved every step of the way.
In February, it was revealed that several new series of Lord of the Rings films were in the works – and The Hunt for Gollum will be the first of these.
Serkis said of the news: “Yesssss, Precious. The time has come once more to venture into the unknown with my dear friends, the extraordinary and incomparable guardians of Middle Earth Peter, Fran and Philippa. With Mike and Pam, and the Warner Bros team on the quest as well, alongside WETA and our filmmaking family in New Zealand. It’s just all too delicious.”
Meanwhile, Jackson, Walsh and Boyens added: “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! As life-long fans of Professor Tolkien’s vast mythology, we are proud to be working with Mike De Luca, Pam Abdy and the entire team at Warner Bros on another epic adventure!”
Serkis recently directed Tom Hardy in Venom: Let There Be Carnage, and is set to direct an adaptation of George Orwell’s Animal Farm.
When Warner Bros announced plans to make more Lord of the Rings films, Serkis said he would “jump at the chance” to reunite with Jackson, Walsh and Boyens. Meanwhile, original trilogy star Elijah Wood, who played Frodo Baggins, said he was “surprised” by the news.
Watch Apple TV+ free for 7 days
New subscribers only. £8.99/mo. after free trial. Plan auto-renews until cancelled
Watch Apple TV+ free for 7 days
New subscribers only. £8.99/mo. after free trial. Plan auto-renews until cancelled
Earlier this week, veteran Bernard Hill, who appeared in the original trilogy as King Theoden, died aged 79, prompting tributes from his Lord of the Rings cast mates.
In 2022, the actor revealed he was not a fan of Prime Video’s “money-making” franchise extension The Rings of Power, arguing that Jackson’s trilogy should have “completely” put an end to future Tolkien adaptations.
The new Lord of the Rings film will be released in 2026.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments