THE LORD OF THE RINGS: THE HUNT FOR GOLLUM Starts Filming as First Set Footage Reveals Andy Serkis Back as Gollum
Production is officially underway on The Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum, and Warner Bros. has kicked things off with a fun first look that should put a smile on the face of any Middle-earth fan.
The studio has released the first footage from the set, giving us a glimpse of Andy Serkis slipping right back into one of the most unforgettable characters in fantasy film history.
It's a short teaser, but it's enough to remind everyone just how closely Serkis is connected to Gollum. Seeing him step back into that role after all these years feels surreal, and for longtime fans of The Lord of the Rings, it's hard not to get excited about where this story is headed.
The video opens with Serkis flipping through the script on set before turning to a nearby production assistant and asking, "What are we gonna start with?"
"That’s a very good place to start," Serkis says. From there, he suits up in the familiar motion capture gear and effortlessly transforms back into Gollum. He drops into the character's signature crouched posture, hunches his shoulders, twists his face into that instantly recognizable feral expression, and just like that, Gollum is back.
The teaser ends with someone calling, "Action!" before cutting to sweeping drone footage of New Zealand's rugged mountain landscapes, confirming that filming is now underway in the same breathtaking country that helped define Peter Jackson's cinematic vision of Middle-earth.
This time around, Serkis isn't just playing Sméagol. He's also directing the film, taking on one of the biggest creative challenges of his career. It's an ambitious move, especially when you're returning to one of the most beloved fantasy worlds ever put on screen.
Whether he can successfully carry that responsibility remains to be seen, but as someone who absolutely loves The Lord of the Rings, I'm rooting for him. Serkis understands this character better than anyone, and if he can capture the same heart, emotion, and epic scale that made the original trilogy so special, The Hunt for Gollum has the potential to become something really memorable. Here's hoping he delivers another great journey through Middle-earth.
The movie reunites Serkis with the creative team that helped build the original trilogies. Peter Jackson, Fran Walsh, and Philippa Boyens are all returning, bringing decades of Middle-earth experience with them.
As for the cast, Ian McKellen returns as Gandalf, Elijah Wood is back as Frodo, and Lee Pace reprises his role as King Thranduil. They're joined by newcomers Kate Winslet as Marigol, Jamie Dornan as Strider, Leo Woodall as Halvard, and Anya Taylor-Joy, who will play an elf.
When previously speaking about returning to Middle-earth, Serkis couldn't hide how much the reunion means to him.
“It couldn’t be better. And it’s not just those guys who obviously I adore and love and have spent so many years working with, but the entire crew, practically from 25 years ago. So it’s great. And there are generations of their kids too. So it is a big family affair.”
That kind of enthusiasm is encouraging because it sounds like this production is bringing back much of the creative spirit that made the original films so special. There's a genuine sense that the people involved want to make another worthy chapter in Tolkien's cinematic legacy rather than simply revisit familiar territory.
There's still a long road ahead before audiences get to see the finished film, but this first bit of footage is a fun reminder that Middle-earth is alive once again. Watching Serkis instantly become Gollum after all these years is impressive, and New Zealand still looks every bit as magical as fans remember.
The Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum is currently scheduled to arrive in theaters on December 17, 2027, and after seeing this first look, my anticipation has only grown.
It's impossible not to be excited about returning to Middle-earth, and hopefully Serkis proves he's the right filmmaker to lead audiences on another unforgettable adventure.