More than two decades after helping define one of fantasy cinema’s most memorable characters, Andy Serkis is preparing for another journey into Middle-earth — this time both in front of and behind the camera.
The actor will reprise his legendary role as Gollum/Sméagol in The Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum while also directing the live-action feature, becoming the first filmmaker aside from Peter Jackson to helm a live-action movie in the franchise.
Speaking ahead of production in New Zealand, Serkis described the project as a fresh expansion of Tolkien’s cinematic universe rather than a simple nostalgia-driven return.
“The joy of The Hunt for Gollum is that it's entirely its own story, but it fits perfectly into the lore, the tone, the feel of the Middle-earth films that were created by Peter Jackson 25 years ago,” Serkis said.
Set between The Hobbit trilogy and The Lord of the Rings trilogy, the film explores the secret hunt for Gollum before the War of the Ring begins. The storyline draws from references in The Fellowship of the Ring and Tolkien’s appendices, where Gandalf and Aragorn search for the elusive creature in hopes of uncovering information tied to the One Ring.
Veteran actor Ian McKellen is set to return as Gandalf, while Jamie Dornan takes on the role of Aragorn, replacing Viggo Mortensen. Serkis explained that viewers would meet a younger and rougher version of the future king.
“We're calling him Strider in our movie. He is at a different point in his journey, so he is slightly different to the Aragorn that we see later on,” Serkis explained.
“It's a version of himself that's been out in the wilderness as a Dúnedain Ranger.”
The upcoming film also brings back familiar faces including Elijah Wood and Lee Pace, while introducing new characters portrayed by Kate Winslet and Leo Woodall.
Warner Bros. has continued expanding the Middle-earth universe in recent years following the release of The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim. The studio also recently announced another project currently titled The Lord of the Rings: Shadow of the Past.
Despite concerns among some fans about franchise fatigue, Serkis insisted the new film offers a distinct identity rather than relying solely on familiarity.
“It's not just a nostalgia film,” he said. “We're seeing plenty of those... The Hunt for Gollum adheres to that world, but it certainly has a freshness and a newness in terms of the actual story.”
The Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum is scheduled for release in 2027.