A Shadow Moves in Middle-earth as Ian McKellen Teases THE HUNT FOR GOLLUM
Middle-earth is officially calling fans back, and Ian McKellen just dropped some exciting new details about the next The Lord of the Rings movie. During a recent fan event in London, the iconic actor spoke briefly about the The Hunt for Gollum.
McKellen appeared at the “For the Love of Fantasy” event, where he confirmed that Warner Bros. plans to begin production in May 2026.
McKellen teased the scope of the story and dropped a few carefully chosen details, while keeping most of the mystery intact. He told the audience:
“It’s going to be directed by Gollum, and it’s all about Gollum. But I’ll tell you two secrets about the casting. There’s a character in the movie called Frodo and another character called Gandalf, and apart from that, my lips are sealed.”
We already know that he’ll reprise his role as Gandalf and that Elijah Wood will return as Frodo, and it makes me wonder if Frodo will actually have a decent sized role in the story.
The Hunt for Gollum will be directed by Andy Serkis, who of course brought Gollum to life in the original trilogy. The film is set shortly before The Fellowship of the Ring and follows the shadowy hunt for Gollum as Gandalf, Aragorn, and Sauron all search for the creature who holds critical knowledge about the One Ring.
The twist is that the story is told largely from Gollum’s perspective, giving fans a darker and more intimate look at one of Tolkien’s most tragic characters.
Aragorn will still play a key role, but the character will be portrayed by a younger actor, replacing Viggo Mortensen. The film is being produced by Peter Jackson, Fran Walsh, and Philippa Boyens, reuniting the creative team that shaped the original trilogy and The Hobbit films.
The project is also a major priority for Warner Bros. Discovery. CEO David Zaslav has openly listed The Hunt for Gollum alongside major franchise titles like Batman, Superman, and Harry Potter as key pillars of the studio’s future.
Serkis previously shared that the creative team had already spent about a year developing the story and that pre-production was set to begin soon. The current plan is to start filming in early to mid-2026, with a targeted theatrical release in December 2027.
The original Lord of the Rings trilogy wrapped up in 2003, with McKellen, Wood, and Jackson later returning for The Hobbit. He also remained involved with the franchise through The War of the Rohirrim, the animated feature produced alongside Walsh and Boyens.
With familiar faces returning, a fresh angle on a fan-favorite character, and the original creative voices guiding the story, The Hunt for Gollum is shaping up to be a compelling new chapter in The Lord of the Rings saga.
