The Hunt for Gollum Sets 2027 Release—Here's What We Know
Middle-earth is officially back on the big screen, and yes — we're going back to New Zealand.
Warner Bros. has confirmed that The Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum will hit theaters on December 17, 2027, marking the franchise's first live-action film since The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies wrapped things up in 2014.
This time, Andy Serkis — the man behind Gollum's iconic snarling — is stepping into the director's chair and returning to the role that launched a thousand impressions. He told Collider that the movie's been in the works for a while and is gearing up to start filming "in the early to mid-part of next year." He also warned it's going to be a "sizeable" production, so expect something a little more epic than Gollum mumbling to himself in a cave for two hours.
Serkis said he's "incredibly excited" to be heading back to New Zealand, calling the project something that will be "surprising, and yet very much part of the lore and feel of the trilogy."
And while Peter Jackson isn't directing this time around, he's still on board as a producer — alongside Fran Walsh and Philippa Boyens, his creative ride-or-die crew from the original films. Warner Bros. says the trio will be "involved every step of the way," which is code for: "Don't worry, we're not Amazon."
Speaking of Amazon — after The Rings of Power moved production to the UK, The Hunt for Gollum marks a full-circle moment as the franchise returns to its cinematic roots in Aotearoa. Wētā FX has confirmed they're involved, with more pre-production details coming soon. The New Zealand Film Commission hasn't received a rebate application yet, but with this likely to become one of the country's most expensive shoots, you can bet that's coming.
There's also an elephant in the room: U.S. President Donald Trump (yes, still) has floated a proposed 100% tariff on foreign-made films. Warner Bros. hasn't commented, but if it goes through, it could complicate things — especially for a project this size being shot outside the U.S.
The Hunt for Gollum follows a rough year for the franchise. The animated film The War of the Rohirrim bombed at the box office in 2023, pulling in just $20.7 million against a $30 million budget. This new film has a lot riding on it — not just for Warner Bros., but for fans hoping to see a live-action Middle-earth return to form.
No plot details yet, but the title says it all: Gollum's story isn't finished. And if Serkis and the old creative team can recapture that Fellowship-era magic, this might just be the comeback Tolkien fans have been waiting for.