Fans of Tolkien can celebrate as “The Hunt for Gollum” signals a comeback to Middle-earth in cinematic form. Yes, you heard correctly—a fresh Lord of the Rings film is coming our way, taking place prior to the onset of “The Fellowship of the Ring.” This time, we’re delving into part of the earlier narrative.
Timeline of The Lord of the Rings
That we haven’t witnessed previously (except for a 2009 fan movie), but the filmmaker who helmed the “Lord of the Rings” film trilogy, Peter Jackson, has returned to take charge as the director once again.
Nevertheless, before we get carried away, you might have numerous queries regarding the
upcoming movie
For instance, you might be pondering how Warner Bros intends to adapt Tolkien’s appendices into an entire movie. Perhaps you’re eager to learn whether the initial Lord of the Rings cast is participating in this new venture. Alternatively, you could be questioning if the film will adhere strictly to Tolkien’s lore… unlike certain other adaptations of The Lord of the Rings that are out there right now (cough, cough).
Rings of Power season three
production).
Sure thing! Down below, we’ve compiled every piece of essential information needed to embark on your extensive journey back to Middle-earth. Whether it’s details about the release date, storyline, casting choices, or additional facts related to “The Hunt for Gollum,” we have amassed such comprehensive data that even Sauron’s most skilled informants would be envious of our thoroughness. Dive into these pages, brave explorers!
The release date of The Hunt for Gollum
The release date for “The Hunt for Gollum” has been announced as
December 17, 2027
This announcement from Warner Bros came on May 8, 2025, and we’re incredibly thrilled about it. The movie was originally slated for release sometime in December 2026. But at the Fan Expo Vancouver 2025 event, this information was updated.
The Direct
) indicating that the film has been rescheduled for release in 2027.
Given that the film was just announced in 2024, this schedule seems reasonable since fantasy movies require substantial time for post-production to really come together. Perhaps the extra time will lead to a superior final product.
best fantasy movies
of the year!
What is The Hunt for Gollum plot?
Although we’re uncertain about how The Hunt for Gollum might elaborate upon Tolkien’s creation (an unsettling idea indeed), we can confirm that this story draws from the author’s appendices. Set mostly 17 years following Bilbo’s jubilee, at which he transferred the One Ring to Frodo, the narrative unfolds during an era largely untouched by Peter Jackson’s cinematic adaptations. Despite these movies not delving deeply into the extended period preceding Frodo’s journey to Rivendell, their storyline occurs prior to our principal halfling characters departing the Shire.
Primarily, Gandalf is troubled by the malevolent essence of Frodo’s “magic ring” and fears that if Gollum were caught, he might disclose details about what Gandalf believes to be the One Ring to Sauron’s sinister allies. To prevent this from happening, Gandalf contacts Aragorn and urges him to employ his tracking expertise as a ranger to locate the despicable being ahead of Sauron’s forces.
This leads to Aragorn and Gandalf occasionally joining forces to track down Gollum collaboratively (frequently ending with fruitless efforts). If you’re familiar with The Lord of the Rings series, either through reading or watching, you’ll recall that Gollum ended up entering Mordor where he was apprehended. Meanwhile, Gandalf devoted himself to further investigating the One Ring to verify his hypotheses, whereas Aragorn persisted in pursuing Gollum, all while Sauron subjected him to torment.
In time, Sauron let go of Gollum once he had extracted everything useful from him, leaving Gollum vulnerable enough to be seized by Aragorn not long after gaining his liberty. Over approximately fifty days, the duo moves stealthily, evading adversaries whenever possible, with Aragorn heading towards a secure location to confine Gollum for future questioning. Eventually, Gandalf has an opportunity to interrogate Gollum, during which he gains additional assurance that Frodo’s ring is indeed the One Ring possessed by Sauron.
This created an urgent atmosphere and set everything into motion, which we observe in “The Fellowship of the Ring.” Upon Gandalf’s return to the Shire, he informed Frodo about his upcoming tasks; simultaneously, the Nazgûl invaded the Shire, and several Orcs enabled Gollum to break free from his cell.
The plot details for the forthcoming movie encompass numerous elements including temporal leaps and straightforward journeys with minimal conflict. We anticipate that The Hunt for Gollum will undergo alterations accordingly. Previously, in 2009, a fan-created version titled “The Hunt for Gollum” was unveiled. Despite being based loosely on Tolkien’s creations, this independent production presented a novel narrative. It should prove intriguing to observe whether Warner Bros opts for a comparable approach with their adaptation.
In what part of the Lord of the Rings chronology does The Hunt for Gollum fall?
The Hunt for Gollum technically starts as far back as TA 2944, only a few years after Bilbo’s quest in The Hobbit, where Gandalf wished to know how Gollum got the ring in the first place. The Hunt picks up again in TA 3001 after Bilbo’s 111th birthday party, where Gandalf’s suspicions about the ring heat up to a fever pitch. The Hunt for Gollum then concludes in TA 3018. This is also the year when Frodo and his friends start their journey to Rivendell.
Currently, it’s unclear what timeline the upcoming movie will present. The main action of The Hunt for Gollum spans over 17 years. So we are curious to see how Jackson and his team plan to adapt Tolkien’s work to fit into a film. Stay tuned for updates!
The Hunt for Gollum cast
Currently, the only confirmed cast member for The Hunt for Gollum is Gollum himself, with Andy Serkis on board to reprise his role from the Peter Jackson movies.
Fans are dying to know if Ian McKellen and Viggo Mortensen will also be reprising their roles of Gandalf and Aragorn, respectively. However, neither actors were reached out to before the movie was revealed in 2024, causing many to raise their eyebrows.
McKellen mentioned in an interview that he would like to come back as Gandalf.
The Times
, and Mortensen told
GQ
It seems he hasn’t gotten his lines yet. This might simply be both of them keeping their participation under wraps until they spring a major surprise twist. On the other hand, this could indicate that Warner Bros has replaced the actors. Should that turn out to be true, then similar to numerous fans, I would likely react with great disappointment upon hearing such news. Stay tuned as we continue updating you with fresh information coming our way.
Is there a trailer for The Hunt for Gollum?
At present, there isn’t a trailer available for The Hunt for Gollum. But with the announcement of our release schedule, fans can anticipate a sneak peek coming up shortly. We’re betting big that the initial trailer should surface at San Diego Comic-Con sometime in July this year.
As we await the trailer, you can view the 2009 fan-created film instead.
The Hunt For Gollum
, now on YouTube. Or if you want to dive into a Middle-earth refresher, you can also read our guide on how to watch all the
The Lord of the Rings film series in sequence is as follows:
1. The Fellowship of the Ring
2. The Two Towers
3. The Return of the King
as well.
For additional Tolkien enjoyment, explore our selection of must-see lists.
top Lord of the Rings video games
to play today.
If you enjoyed this article, click the +Follow button at the top of the page to stay updated with similar stories from MSN.