Warner Bros. and New Line Cinema have officially set the release date for The Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum, planning to unveil Sméagol's tale to audiences on December 17, 2027. This announcement positions the premiere over two years away, marking a delay of at least a year from the previously announced 2026 plan. Despite the wait, fans of fantasy are already eagerly anticipating how they will celebrate Christmas in 2027.

The film is being helmed by Andy Serkis, acclaimed for directing Venom: Let There Be Carnage and Mowgli: Legend of the Jungle. Serkis is also renowned for his acting, particularly for his iconic portrayal of Caesar in the 2010 Planet of the Apes trilogy and, most famously, Gollum in both the original The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit trilogies. Fans will be thrilled to know that Serkis will be involved both behind and in front of the camera for this new venture.

With his extensive experience in motion capture and understanding of Gollum's character, Serkis is joined by a team of Middle-earth veterans. Peter Jackson, Fran Walsh, Philippa Boyens, and Zane Weiner are on board as producers, while Walsh, Boyens, Phoebe Gittins, and Arty Papageorgiou are crafting the screenplay.

Peter Jackson has provided some insight into the film's storyline, hinting that it will delve into the pasts of beloved characters. He expressed a desire to explore narratives that were not covered in the previous films. "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 stated. "It’s too soon to know who will cross his path, but suffice to say we will take our lead from [original author J.R.R. Tolkien]."

The Lord of the Rings Movies in (Chronological) Order

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As Warner Bros. continues to expand the universe of The Lord of the Rings, The Hunt for Gollum is expected to feature other familiar characters. Gandalf, portrayed by the legendary Ian McKellen, is one name expected to appear. Philippa Boyens hinted to Empire last October that Gandalf could feature in potentially two live-action films.

The Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum is scheduled for release in December 2027. While fans await its arrival, they can keep up 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.