It’s real, and it’s precious. This week, after years of anticipation and speculation, cameras began rolling on The Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum, the next big-screen foray from the iconic franchise. And, to announce the news, Warner Bros. released a short but sweet video that’s sure to give you goosebumps.
The Hunt for Gollum won’t have to hunt for him too much on set. The actor portraying the title character, Andy Serkis, is also directing this time, taking the reins from his predecessor, Peter Jackson, who this time produces. Here’s the video.
So, of course, here we see Serkis not just in his role as director, but as the star, the former hobbit turned into a despicable monster by the power of the One Ring. It then transitions to some kind of gorgeous landscape, presumably in New Zealand, which instantly makes us feel like the original films.
Unfortunately, while we now have this official news of production having begun, we don’t yet have an official plot description. We’re pretty sure, though, that the film takes place before and during the timeline of The Fellowship of the Ring as Gandalf and Aragorn search for Gollum around the time he was captured by Sauron’s armies and revealed Bilbo Baggins was the last to have the ring.
We do, however, have an official cast list that confirms, in addition to Serkis, Ian McKellan, Elijah Wood, and Lee Pace are returning to their roles as Gandalf, Frodo Baggins, and Thranduil, Jamie Dornan is replacing Viggo Mortensen as Aragorn/Strider, Kate Winslet joins the fray as Marigol, and Anya Taylor-Joy is a character named Seren.
How do they all fit together? What makes this a story worth telling? Hopefully, with cameras now rolling, we’ll learn more as we inch closer to next Christmas and the release of the film.
The Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum opens on December 17, 2027. Are you ready to return to Middle-earth?
Want more io9 news? Check out when to expect the latest Marvel, Star Wars, and Star Trek releases, what’s next for the DC Universe on film and TV, and everything you need to know about the future of Doctor Who.
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