"The Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum Premieres December 2027"

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 scheduled 2026 release. Despite this shift, anticipation remains high among fantasy fans who may already be envisioning how they’ll celebrate Christmas in 2027 with a trip to the cinema.

*The Hunt for Gollum* is being directed by Andy Serkis, best known for his work on *Venom: Let There Be Carnage* and *Mowgli: Legend of the Jungle*. Serkis, who famously portrayed Gollum in both *The Lord of the Rings* and *The Hobbit* trilogies, as well as Caesar in the *Planet of the Apes* reboot series, will not only direct but also reprise his iconic role as the tormented Sméagol/Gollum—bringing a deep understanding of the character to both sides of the camera.

Serkis won’t be venturing into Middle-earth alone. Joining him as producers are acclaimed filmmakers Peter Jackson, Fran Walsh, Philippa Boyens, and Zane Weiner. The screenplay is being crafted by Walsh, Boyens, Phoebe Gittins, and Arty Papageorgiou—ensuring a narrative deeply rooted in Tolkien’s world.

While plot details remain under wraps, Peter Jackson shared some insight last year about what fans can expect. The film aims to delve into the untold chapters of beloved characters’ pasts, including Gollum’s complex journey—an area Jackson noted was left partially unexplored 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. continues expanding its slate of future *Lord of the Rings* films, *The Hunt for Gollum*—and potentially other projects—could reintroduce additional familiar faces. Among them, Gandalf is expected to play a significant role, with Philippa Boyens hinting to *Empire* last October that he might appear in two upcoming live-action films. If plans align, the legendary wizard could even be portrayed once again by the original actor, Sir Ian McKellen.

With *The Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum* now slated for a December 2027 debut, fans have a bit of a wait ahead 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.