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 gripping tale to theaters on December 17, 2027.
This announcement places the premiere more than two years away, marking at least a one-year delay from the previously announced 2026 window. Despite the wait, fans are already excitedly planning how they’ll celebrate Christmas 2027 with a cinematic journey back to Middle-earth.
Directed by Andy Serkis—best known for Venom: Let There Be Carnage and Mowgli: Legend of the Jungle—The Hunt for Gollum will see him both in front of and behind the camera. Serkis, who famously brought Gollum to life in both The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit trilogies, is uniquely positioned to lead this story. His deep understanding of the character promises an intimate and compelling portrayal of Sméagol’s tragic transformation.
Beyond Serkis, the film brings together a powerhouse team of Middle-earth veterans. Producers include Peter Jackson, Fran Walsh, Philippa Boyens, and Zane Weiner, with screenplay contributions from Walsh, Boyens, Phoebe Gittins, and Arty Papageorgiou.As for what fans can expect, Peter Jackson teased some intriguing hints last year. The film aims to delve into the untold stories and hidden pasts of beloved characters. Specifically, Jackson emphasized the desire to explore Gollum’s backstory in greater depth.
“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 shared. “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. moves forward with its slate of upcoming Lord of the Rings films, The Hunt for Gollum—and potentially other projects—may reintroduce familiar faces from Tolkien’s universe. One such figure expected to appear is Gandalf. In fact, Philippa Boyens revealed in an interview with Empire last October that the iconic wizard could return in up to two live-action films. If plans align, original actor Ian McKellen may reprise the legendary role.
With The Hunt for Gollum now scheduled for release three Decembers from today, audiences have some time to wait before returning to Middle-earth. In the meantime, stay tuned for updates 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.
