LotR: Gollum Hunt Launches Dec 2027

Warner Bros. and New Line Cinema have confirmed a December 17, 2027 theatrical release for The Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum, unveiling their plans to bring Sméagol’s untold story to the big screen.

The announcement sets the premiere over three years away, marking a one-year delay from the originally projected 2026 timeline. Still, fantasy enthusiasts are undoubtedly already planning their 2027 holiday movie outings.

Andy Serkis, known for directing Venom: Let There Be Carnage and Mowgli: Legend of the Jungle, will helm the project. The acclaimed actor, famous for his motion-capture performances as Caesar in the Planet of the Apes trilogy and Gollum in both The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit films, will pull double duty - directing while reprising his iconic role.

Serkis brings unparalleled Gollum expertise to the production, supported by Middle-earth veterans including producers Peter Jackson, Fran Walsh, Philippa Boyens, and Zane Weiner. The writing team consists of Walsh, Boyens, Phoebe Gittins, and Arty Papageorgiou.

Jackson previously teased narrative details, suggesting the film will explore untapped elements of familiar characters' histories that earlier films couldn't accommodate due to runtime constraints.

"We're particularly excited to examine Gollum's backstory and address narrative gaps from our previous adaptations," Jackson explained. "While we can't reveal specifics about character encounters yet, we're remaining faithful to Tolkien's source material."

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As Warner Bros. expands its Middle-earth cinematic universe, The Hunt for Gollum could feature several returning characters. Industry insiders suggest Gandalf may appear in multiple upcoming live-action films, with original actor Ian McKellen potentially reprising the role if production schedules align.

With three years until its release, fans can currently immerse themselves in Amazon Prime Video's The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power, which secured renewal for Season 3 earlier this year.