(Image source: Warner Bros. Pictures)
Peter Jackson's second spin-off film in "The Lord of the Rings" saga, "The Hunt for Gollum," has been in pre-production for nearly a year. While Andy Serkis, who will direct and star as Gollum, and Ian McKellen, returning as Gandalf, were the only confirmed cast members, McKellen recently dropped a surprise announcement. Speaking at the For the Love of Fantasy fan event in London, the veteran actor revealed that Elijah Wood, known for his role as Frodo, will also rejoin the cast.
On stage, McKellen stated, "There's a character called Frodo, and there's a character called Gandalf in it." Wood, who was also in attendance, reportedly couldn't contain his excitement and laughed upon hearing the news. McKellen further shared that "The Hunt for Gollum" is slated to begin filming next May, targeting a December 17, 2027 release date.
(Image source: Warner Bros. Pictures)
Serkis is producing, directing, and starring in "The Hunt for Gollum." The writing team includes Philippa Boyens, a co-writer for the entire "Lord of the Rings" series; her daughter, Phoebe Gittins; Gittins' writing partner, Arty Papageorgiou; and Fran Walsh, a co-writer for the main six films. Walsh, Boyens, Jackson, and Serkis will all serve as producers on the project.
The film's narrative is set between Bilbo Baggins' birthday party in "The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring" and the Fellowship's arrival at the Mines of Moria. The story kicks off with Gandalf dispatching Aragorn to track down Gollum, driven by the wizard's fear that Gollum might divulge crucial information about the One Ring's whereabouts to Sauron.