'The Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum': Everything to know about the new middle-earth film

Fans are returning to Middle-earth with The Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum, a new big-screen adventure set in the world created by J R R Tolkien.

The upcoming film is scheduled to be released in theaters on December 17, 2027, according to Warner Bros Pictures. The project marks the first live-action feature in the franchise since 2014’s The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies.

Andy Serkis will both direct the movie and reprise his iconic role as Gollum. Serkis previously portrayed the motion-captured character in The Lord of the Rings trilogy and The Hobbit trilogy.

The film is being produced by Peter Jackson, Fran Walsh, and Philippa Boyens, the Oscar-winning team behind the original trilogy. Boyens has said the story will take place during the events of The Fellowship of the Ring and focus on a previously unexplored period involving the pursuit of Gollum.

According to Boyens, the narrative is “quite an intense story” that unfolds after Bilbo Baggins’ birthday party and before the Mines of Moria sequence, following a chapter that was only briefly referenced in Tolkien’s writings.

No full cast has been officially announced beyond Serkis, but Boyens has indicated that familiar characters may return. Ian McKellen has expressed interest in reprising Gandalf, while Viggo Mortensen has said he would consider returning as Aragorn if the story and his age are appropriate.

The screenplay is being written by Walsh, Boyens, Phoebe Gittins, and Arty Papageorgiou.

With the creative team from the original films reunited and Serkis taking the helm, The Hunt for Gollum is shaping up to be one of the most highly anticipated fantasy releases of 2027, offering fans a new chapter in the enduring legacy of Middle-earth.