The Lord of the Rings franchise is set to return to the big screen with a new film titled The Hunt for Gollum, directed by Andy Serkis, who will also reprise his iconic role as Gollum.
The film, set to release in December 2027, features an all-white cast, with Kate Winslet, Leo Woodall, Jamie Dornan, and Anya Taylor-Joy among the main actors. The decision to cast the film with a predominantly white cast has sparked discussion about the lack of diversity in the Lord of the Rings franchise.
Serkis, 62, has defended the casting choice, stating that the film's setting in Middle-earth, based on JRR Tolkien's fantasy novels, is influenced by Norse mythology and features a predominantly white culture. He also acknowledged that there have been criticisms about the lack of diversity in the franchise, but emphasized that the film is not attempting to be "politically correct" for the sake of it.
The Hunt for Gollum is drawn from the appendices of The Lord of the Rings, which provide a deeper dive into the history and psychology of Gollum. The film will explore Gollum's childhood and how he became what he was, as well as his attempts to reach the Shire and the Rangers' pursuit of him.
The cast, which also includes Elijah Wood as Frodo and Sir Ian McKellen as Gandalf, will be augmented by the use of AI technology to de-age some of the characters. The film's production is currently underway in New Zealand, with more casting announcements expected in the coming months.
The Lord of the Rings franchise has faced criticism in the past for its lack of diversity, particularly with regards to its treatment of Black actors in its Prime Video spin-off, The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power. Serkis, who has spoken about his own experiences as a white actor in a predominantly minority cast on the set of Black Panther, has said that the new film is "very much a deep dive into the psychology and history of Gollum before he became Gollum," and will explore the origins of the ring in Bilbo Baggins' possession.
The Hunt for Gollum is set to be followed by a second new Lord of the Rings film, Shadow of the Past, written by former US chat show host and Tolkien enthusiast, Stephen Colbert.
