The film is set before the events that occurred in The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring.
Peter Jackson is set to return to the world of Middle Earth once again, coming on board to executive produce his next film The Lord of the ringstentatively titled The Hunt for Gollum. The film will feature the return of Andy Serkis to the iconic role of Gollum, as he directs his first film in the franchise.
The film is set before the events that occurred in The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ringa time when many of the powers of Middle-earth are searching for Gollum.
Jackson’s work on the film trilogy was accompanied by several battle sequences. However, in The Hunt for Gollum, the focus will be more on understanding Gollum’s mind than on the battle scenes against the orcs. Speaking about the possible routes the story could take, Jackson reveals that the The creature’s backstory and the contrast between Gollum and Sméagol’s personalities would be the main focussaying:
“The Gollum/Sméagol character has always fascinated me because Gollum reflects the worst of human nature, while the Sméagol side of him is arguably quite sympathetic. I think he resonates with readers and viewers of the films alike, because there’s a bit of both in all of us. We really want to explore his backstory and delve into those parts of his journey that we didn’t have time to cover in the previous films. It’s too early to tell who he’ll cross paths with, but suffice it to say that we’ll be taking a leaf out of Professor Tolkien’s book.”
What to expect from “The Hunt for Gollum”
The timeline of The Hunt for Gollum will see a period when Gollum and the One Ring were the most prized possessions in Middle-earth. Gandalf, Aragorn, and the Dark Lord Sauron were all searching for the creature that dwelled deep within the mountains, as it was believed to possess the ring of power. This is a time period that is only passively talked about in the written works of J.R.R. Tolkienwhich gives Jackson and Serkis leeway to creatively develop the story. Jackson’s comments suggest that the upcoming film won’t tackle unnecessary action like perhaps the trilogy of The Hobbit.
The Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum is set for release in 2026, and while we haven’t yet been able to figure out exactly what story the film will tell, it’s exciting to return to Middle-earth in the Third Age. Serkis, who is leading this Sméagol-centric story, has suggested that ahead of its release, The film could change its namesaying:
“The Hunt for Gollum is a title in development. It may not be called that. It will focus heavily on the world of Middle Earth based on the experience that Gollum had.It’s very early days; it would be unfair to commit to anything at this point. But I will say that it will be a deep dive where we’ll be looking into the character of Gollum. We may recognize characters who could return. I’m not going to say who.”
The Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum will be released in 2026.
Source: Ambito
I am an author and journalist who has worked in the entertainment industry for over a decade. I currently work as a news editor at a major news website, and my focus is on covering the latest trends in entertainment. I also write occasional pieces for other outlets, and have authored two books about the entertainment industry.
