Warner Bros. Discovery’s CEO has hyped the studio’s forthcoming return to Middle-earth viaThe Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum. Slated to arrive in theaters in December 2027, the latest installment in the hit fantasy franchise will see Gollum actor Andy Serkis assume directorial duties, while Peter Jackson will write and produce alongside Fran Walsh and Philippa Boyens.
Announced in May 2024,The Hunt for Gollumwill be the franchise’s first live-action movie since 2014’sThe Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies.Initially slated for a 2026 release, the film was later pushed back 12 months to allow for the script to be finalised.
During an earnings call, Warner Bros. Discovery CEODavid Zaslav revealed he has “got a great script” for the nextLord of the Ringsmoviefrom Jackson. This latest revelation follows Serkis' earlier assertion that they were only at the beginning of the writing process in February this year, and hoped to commence production in 2026.
What The New Lord of the Rings Script Means For The Hunt for Gollum
While there has been no shortage of new Middle-earth content since the conclusion ofThe Hobbittrilogy,The Hunt for Gollumwill mark a much-anticipated return to Jackson’s version of Tolkien’s fantasy world. Given the lackluster box office haul of 2024’sThe War of the Rohirrim,it will alsoserve as an important litmus test for the franchise’s continued longevity.
As such, it is imperative that the script forThe Hunt for Gollumnot only harkens back to the appeal of Jackson’s original movies, but also delivers a story capable of justifying its creation as its own spinoff movie.
While many audiences are already familiar withAragorn’s quest to track down Gollum, theoriginal tale was largely relegated to the appendices of Tolkien’s booksand pales in comparison to the vast wealth of source material that helped inform the original movies. Zaslav’s confidence in the script is a promising sign, but fans have good reason to be cautious.
Our Take On The Hunt For Gollum’s Script
Despite the concerns previously raised about the liberties Jackson had taken with Tolkien’s writings when he madeThe Hobbittrilogy, this newLord of the Ringsspinoffmay also find itself having to introduce other non-canonical charactersand events to flesh out the story into a feature-length film.
Given that Prime Video’sThe Rings of Powerhas also faced criticism for diverting from Tolkien’s lore, the pressure on Jackson and his team to get this latest movie right has probably never been higher. With any luck, Zaslav’s assessment ofThe Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollumscript promises a much-anticipated return to form for the IP.
The Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum
Cast
The Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum is an upcoming fantasy adventure film that delves into the story of Gollum’s obsession with the One Ring.
