Kate Winslet joins Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum as female lead

Kate Winslet has joined the cast of the upcoming fantasy film The Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum, directed by Andy Serkis. The Oscar-winning actor is expected to take on a major undisclosed role described as the film’s female lead.

The project marks a reunion between Winslet and producer Peter Jackson, who previously worked together on the 1994 film Heavenly Creatures. The new film is part of the expanding cinematic world based on the works of J. R. R. Tolkien.

Production on The Hunt for Gollum is expected to take place in New Zealand, with filming scheduled to run from late May through October. The movie will continue the story within the world of Middle-earth and is positioned chronologically between the events of The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring.

The cast is also expected to include returning franchise stars such as Elijah Wood as Frodo Baggins and Ian McKellen as Gandalf, while Serkis will reprise his motion-capture role as the creature Gollum.

The story follows Aragorn’s mission to track down Gollum before the creature can reveal critical information about the One Ring to the dark lord Sauron. The screenplay has been written by Philippa Boyens, Fran Walsh, Phoebe Gittins and Arty Papageorgiou.

The film is currently targeting a theatrical release in 2027. Meanwhile, Winslet is also reportedly in discussions regarding a potential second season of the HBO drama Mare of Easttown.