Warner Bros. and New Line Cinema have officially set the release date for The Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum, bringing Sméagol’s compelling journey to theaters on December 17, 2027.
This announcement places the premiere more than two years from now, marking at least a one-year delay from the previously scheduled 2026 window. Still, dedicated fantasy fans are already envisioning how they’ll celebrate Christmas 2027—movie tickets in hand and holiday plans aligned.
Directed by Andy Serkis—known for Venom: Let There Be Carnage and Mowgli: Legend of the Jungle—The Hunt for Gollum will see him not only in the director’s chair but also reprising his iconic role as Gollum via motion capture. A familiar face in Middle-earth, Serkis previously portrayed Gollum in both The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit trilogies and played Caesar in the Planet of the Apes reboot series.
Serkis won’t be venturing into this tale alone. Joining him behind the scenes are seasoned Middle-earth collaborators Peter Jackson, Fran Walsh, Philippa Boyens, and Zane Weiner as producers. The screenplay is being crafted by Fran Walsh, Philippa Boyens, Phoebe Gittins, and Arty Papageorgiou.As for what audiences can expect from the story, Peter Jackson gave fans a glimpse last year. He revealed that the film aims to delve into characters' pasts—particularly Gollum’s—that weren't fully explored in earlier adaptations.
“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 explained. “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. expands its slate of future Lord of the Rings films, The Hunt for Gollum—and potentially other upcoming installments—could feature appearances from well-known characters. One such name expected to return is Gandalf.
Philippa Boyens hinted last October in an interview with Empire that the wise wizard could appear in up to two live-action films moving forward. If all goes according to plan—and the stars align—Gandalf may even be brought back by none other than original actor Ian McKellen.
Mark your calendars: The Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum is now scheduled for a December 2027 release, making it three holiday seasons away. Until then, stay tuned for more updates, and don’t forget to catch the latest news on Amazon Prime Video’s The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power, which was confirmed to return for Season 3 earlier this year.
