Lord of the Rings’ Movie ‘The Hunt for Gollum’ announced for 2026!

[JohnS]

J.R.R. (John Ronald Reuel) Tolkien brought us 'The Hobbit' and 'The Lord of the Rings' in literature form by the mid 20th century and Peter Jackson wonderfully brought these books to the big screen in the early 21st century. Now comes news that Warner Bros. is bringing us 'The Hunt for Gollum'. I wasn't aware that he needed to be captured, but when a film franchise makes $US6 billion, then we need to think about attaching a new meaning to the famous catchphrase, "my precious!!!"

Warner Bros. to Release New ‘Lord of the Rings’ Movie ‘The Hunt for Gollum’ in 2026, Peter Jackson to Produce and Andy Serkis to Direct

By Jennifer Maas

Warner Bros. will release the first of its new batch of live-action “The Lord of the Rings” films in 2026, which will focus on Andy Serkis’ Gollum.

Original “The Lord of the Rings” trilogy filmmaker Peter Jackson and his partners Fran Walsh and Philippa Boyens are producing the movie and “will be involved every step of the way,” Warner Bros. Discovery CEO David Zaslav said during an earnings call Thursday.

The project is currently in the early stages of script development from writers Walsh and Boyens, along with Phoebe Gittins and Arty Papageorgiou, and will “explore storylines yet to be told,” Zaslav said.

In a press release from Warner Bros. later Thursday morning, the studio revealed that the working title for the film is “Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum,” and it will be directed by and star Serkis in his iconic titular role. The film will be executive produced by Ken Kamins, with Serkis and The Imaginarium’s Jonathan Cavendish.

Warner Bros. first announced in February 2023 that then-newly installed studio leaders Mike De Luca and Pam Abdy had brokered a deal to make “multiple” films based on the beloved J.R.R. Tolkien books. The projects will be developed through WB label New Line Cinema. Freemode, a division of Embracer Group, made the adaptive rights deal for books including “The Lord of the Rings” and “The Hobbit” under a venture named Middle-earth Enterprises.

A separate, animated Middle-earth movie, “The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim,” is due on Dec. 13 via Warner Bros. and director Kenji Kamiyama. That movie is set 200 years before the events of “The Hobbit.”

“For over two decades, moviegoers have embraced the ‘Lord of the Rings’ film trilogy because of the undeniable devotion Peter, Fran and Philippa have shown towards protecting the legacy of Tolkien’s works, and to ensure audiences could experience the incredible world he created in a way that honors his literary vision,” De Luca and Abdy said in a statement Thursday. “We are honored they have agreed be our partners on these two new films. With Andy coming aboard to direct ‘Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum,’ we continue an important commitment to excellence that is a true hallmark of how we all want to venture ahead and further contribute to the ‘Lord of the Rings’ cinematic history.”

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!”

“Yesssss, Precious,” Serkis said. “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…”   

The original “Lord of the Rings” trilogy, helmed by Jackson, grossed nearly $3 billion worldwide; Jackson’s follow-up trilogy based on Tolkien’s “The Hobbit” matched those grosses.

Jackson’s first “LOTR” trilogy starred Elijah Wood, Ian McKellen, Liv Tyler, Viggo Mortensen, Sean Astin and Cate Blanchett. That trio of films was nominated for 30 Academy Awards and took home 17 trophies, including best picture for 2003’s “The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King.”

Source: https://variety.com/2024/film/news/lord-of-the-rings-movie-2026-release-warner-bros-1235997102/

[Vetteman]

Like the author of the piece, I too wasn’t aware “he needed to be captured”, but would watch it if it’s made. I’m a fan of the books and thought Jackson did a nice job with LOTR and to a lesser degree The Hobbit

[Li Bai]

Not sure if a new movie is needed but considering what the LOTR trilogy would gross today it was just a matter of time...

Let's hope it's gonna be good 🤞

[Capn_Jackson]

Since high school, I’ve been a Tolkien enthusiast, although mostly my love revolves around the LOTR story itself. The Hobbit, I read once and that was enough, and the Silmarillion ….well, maybe I just need to have another crack at it. I’ve read the LOTR trilogy about ten times, and still find more depth each re-read. The Hunt for Gollum will be based on something that is only outlined in the LOTR appendices. I would say “spoiler alert,” but this is all kinda speedily explained in the trilogy films, and also published decades ago. I will, however call “nerd alert,” on myself.

The film trilogy - how has it been over 20 years??? - was great, and I still love them, but there were many things changed/dropped in the adaptation that bugged me. The search for Gollum wasn’t really one of them, as it’s not explored in detail in the books either. It is, however, an important part of the narrative. The film seems to contradict this, but there were about 17 years between Bilbo’s birthday party when he departed, and the time Frodo and Sam set off. 17 years! The film makes it look like a few days later. A lot happened in that time that we don’t really know. Gandalf tells Frodo to “Keep it secret. Keep it safe,” and then goes off looking for answers about the ring. Since Bilbo had taken the ring from Gollum’s cave, Gandalf went off in search of information about Gollum. He suspects this might be “The One Ring,” but isn’t sure. He calls on Aragorn for help because remember, Aragorn is one of the best trackers in Middle Earth. It’s during this time that Gollum is captured by Sauron while he’s wandering around Mordor, and tortured. Years later, Aragorn finds Gollum in the Dead Marshes, and takes him for questioning. This is when they hear about all that happened to him since he left his cave to look for “Bagginsessssss.” At about that same time, Gandalf finds the scrolls in Minas Tirith, connects all the dots, and goes back to tell Frodo about his cursed jewelry.

This part of the story isn’t well fleshed-out, but there is about 17 years there. 3001 is the year of Bilbo’s party and when Gandalf began this search for Gollum. 3017 is when Aragorn finds him, and also when Gandalf finds the scrolls that confirm his suspicions. Spring of 3018 is when he makes it back to tell Frodo.

Okay, okay…. Now you all know the truth. Cap’n is a big nerd. And a long-winded one, at that.

[cigaraholic]

What’s the big deal...he’s in NY right now.