"Lord of the Rings: Gollum Hunt Premieres December 2027"

Warner Bros. and New Line Cinema have officially set a release date for The Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum, planning to bring Sméagol's tale to the big screen on December 17, 2027. This announcement places the premiere over two years away, marking a delay of at least one year from the previously announced 2026 plan. Despite the wait, fans are already looking forward to spending their Christmas holiday in 2027 immersed in Middle-earth.

The project is being helmed by Andy Serkis, renowned for directing films like Venom: Let There Be Carnage and Mowgli: Legend of the Jungle. Serkis's connection to the franchise is deep, having portrayed Gollum in both The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit trilogies, as well as Caesar in the Planet of the Apes trilogy. Fans will be thrilled to know that Serkis is not only directing but also reprising his iconic role as Gollum.

With his extensive experience in motion capture, Serkis is perfectly suited to delve into Gollum's psyche. He will be joined by familiar names in the production team, including Peter Jackson, Fran Walsh, Philippa Boyens, and Zane Weiner. The writing team comprises Walsh, Boyens, Phoebe Gittins, and Arty Papageorgiou, ensuring a rich narrative.

Last year, Peter Jackson provided some insight into the film's storyline, hinting at exploring the pasts of beloved characters. "We really want to explore [Gollum's] backstory and delve into those parts of his journey we didn't have time to cover in the earlier films," Jackson said. He emphasized their intent to follow the lead of original author J.R.R. Tolkien, promising a faithful expansion of the Middle-earth saga.

The Lord of the Rings Movies in (Chronological) Order

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As Warner Bros. continues to expand the universe of Middle-earth, The Hunt for Gollum may see the return of other cherished characters. Gandalf, portrayed by Ian McKellen in the original films, is expected to appear and may feature in not one but two upcoming live-action films, according to Philippa Boyens in an interview with Empire last October.

The Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum is slated to hit theaters three Decembers from now. While fans eagerly await this release, they can stay updated with the latest developments on Amazon Prime Video's The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power, which has been confirmed for a third season.