Even the legendary wizard himself didn't see this coming. Ian McKellen has expressed genuine shock regarding the expansion of Middle-earth, confirming his return to portray Gandalf in the upcoming film, The Hunt for Gollum.
While fans are reeling from the news of new cinematic entries, it was actor Andy Serkis who spearheaded the concept. Serkis is set to both direct and star in this new project, which explores the early life of the creature once known as Sméagol.
"I'm going back to do more Gandalf," McKellen shared during a recent Q&A via GamesRadar. "Who would have thought there was more? The person who thought there was more was Andy Serkis, and he's going to be directing Gollum's early life."
What We Know About The Hunt for Gollum
The plot of The Hunt for Gollum serves as a prequel to the events of The Fellowship of the Ring. It will chronicle the period when various characters were desperately searching for the fallen hobbit to uncover the location of the One Ring.
Key details regarding the production include:
- Setting: The story takes place in the years prior to the original trilogy.
- Conflict: Characters like Gandalf and Aragorn are hunting Gollum while simultaneously being pursued by Sauron.
- Cast Changes: While McKellen returns as Gandalf, Elijah Wood is set to reprise his role as Frodo, and Lee Pace will appear as Thranduil. However, Viggo Mortensen will not return as Aragorn; the role will instead be taken over by Jamie Dornan.
- Release Date: The film is currently scheduled for release on 17 December 2027, with filming expected to begin in New Zealand soon.
Expanding the Middle-earth Cinematic Universe
The announcement of The Hunt for Gollum isn't the only news shaking up the franchise. Production is also moving forward on The Lord of the Rings: Shadow of the Past, a project co-written by Stephen Colbert.
While details remain scarce, Shadow of the Past reportedly draws from chapters three through eight of The Fellowship of the Ring that were omitted from Peter Jackson's original film adaptations. The narrative is expected to utilize flashbacks, featuring Sam, Merry, and Pippin reflecting on their past alongside Sam's daughter.
Despite some fan fatigue following The Hobbit trilogy, the financial scale of Middle-earth remains massive. The original trilogy earned $2.96 billion, while The Hobbit followed closely with $2.93 billion. With Amazon’s Rings of Power series also maintaining the brand's presence, the era of new Lord of the Rings content is officially back in full swing.
