“The Hunt for Gollum”: Andy Serkis Returns as Gollum and Directs in New Live-Action ‘Lord of the Rings’ Film

“The Hunt for Gollum”: Andy Serkis Returns as Gollum and Directs in New Live-Action ‘Lord of the Rings’ Film

Warner Bros. Pictures has revealed the new live-action ‘Lord of the Rings‘ film titled “The Hunt for Gollum,” which focuses on Andy Serkis‘s Gollum, with Serkis also directing.

Peter Jackson, the filmmaker behind the original “The Lord of the Rings” trilogy, along with his partners Fran Walsh and Philippa Boyens, are producing the movie. Warner Bros. Discovery CEO David Zaslav stated during an earnings call Thursday that they “will be involved every step of the way.” Zaslav mentioned that it will “explore storylines yet to be told.”

In the ‘The Lord of the Rings’ movies. Gollum was once a hobbit named Smeagol but became corrupted by the One Ring and turned into a twisted creature obsessed with it.

Image Source: Warner Bros. pictures

In a statement, Serkis said, “Yesssss, Precious.” Serkis added. “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.”

According to Variety, the film is currently in the early stages of script development by writers Walsh and Boyens, along with Phoebe Gittins and Arty Papageorgiou.

The film will be executive produced by Ken Kamins, with Serkis and The Imaginarium’s Jonathan Cavendish.

Jackson, Walsh, and Boyens said, “It is an honor 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 lifelong 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!”

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

“The Hunt for Gollum” will hit theaters in 2026.