The Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum to Premiere in December 2027

Warner Bros. and New Line Cinema have set the release of The Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum for December 17, 2027, bringing Sméagol’s journey to theaters.

This premiere is slated over two years from now, marking at least a one-year push from the previously announced 2026 target. Still, fantasy enthusiasts are likely already planning their 2027 holiday season.

Directed by Andy Serkis, known for Venom: Let There Be Carnage and Mowgli: Legend of the Jungle, the film also sees Serkis reprising his iconic role as Gollum. Renowned for portraying Caesar in the 2010 Planet of the Apes trilogy and Gollum in both The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit trilogies, Serkis will helm the project while performing on-screen.

Serkis, a motion-capture expert, deeply understands Gollum’s essence and is joined by Middle-earth stalwarts, including producers Peter Jackson, Fran Walsh, Philippa Boyens, and Zane Weiner. The screenplay is crafted by Walsh, Boyens, Phoebe Gittins, and Arty Papageorgiou.

Last year, Jackson shared insights into the film’s narrative, hinting at exploring familiar characters’ untold stories. The focus will be on elements left out of earlier films, drawing inspiration from J.R.R. Tolkien’s works.

“We aim to dive into Gollum’s backstory, exploring parts of his journey untouched in prior films,” Jackson explained. “While it’s early to say who else will appear, we’ll stay true to Tolkien’s vision.”

The Lord of the Rings Movies in Chronological Order

As Warner Bros. advances its The Lord of the Rings cinematic slate, The Hunt for Gollum and potential future films may reintroduce familiar faces. Gandalf is likely to feature, with Philippa Boyens suggesting to Empire last October that he could appear in up to two live-action projects. If plans hold, Ian McKellen may return as the beloved wizard.

With The Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum set for release three Decembers away, fans can stay engaged with updates on Amazon Prime Video’s The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power, which was greenlit for a third season earlier this year.