The Lord\u00a0Of\u00a0The\u00a0Rings: The Hunt\u00a0For\u00a0Gollum\u00a0is coming in 2027, but which actors are signed up for the film? Find out what we know so far below.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The new entry in the J.R.R. Tolkien big-screen saga\u00a0will tell of\u00a0the\u00a0events that took place between\u00a0The Hobbit<\/a>\u00a0trilogy and\u00a0The Lord Of The Rings<\/a>\u00a0trilogy, with Aragorn and Gandalf setting out to find Gollum and learn more about Bilbo Baggins\u2019 ring.\u00a0<\/p>\n The film,\u00a0which is currently slated for a December 17,\u00a02027\u00a0release<\/a>, is set to be directed by Andy Serkis, who will also reprise his role as Gollum.\u00a0Peter Jackson<\/a>\u00a0is returning as a producer, along with his partners from the earlier films, Fran Walsh and Philippa Boyens.\u00a0<\/p>\n To coincide with Tolkien Reading Day last month, Jackson gave an update on the film\u2019s progress.\u00a0\u201cAndy is doing a terrific job.\u00a0It\u2019s looking\u00a0amazing,\u201d he said. \u201cThe script is coming together really\u00a0well\u00a0and I think it\u2019s going to be a really good film.\u201d\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/p>\n Released between 2001 and 2003,\u00a0The Lord\u00a0Of\u00a0The\u00a0Rings\u00a0trilogy was a celebrated hit, winning a combined 17 Oscars and making over\u00a0$2.9billion\u00a0(\u00a32.1billion) worldwide. A trilogy based on\u00a0The Hobbit\u00a0book was released between 2012 and 2014, also directed by Jackson. The three movies\u00a0made\u00a0around the same amount at the box office as their predecessors. A TV series,\u00a0The\u00a0Rings Of Power<\/a>, debuted in 2022 on\u00a0Prime Video<\/a>, but is not officially connected to the films.\u00a0<\/p>\n It was also recently announced that\u00a0another film,\u00a0The Lord\u00a0Of\u00a0The Rings: Shadows Of The Past, is in development\u00a0too<\/a>. It will pick up 14 years after the passing of Frodo Baggins\u00a0and will follow Sam, Merry and Pippin as they retrace the first steps of their adventure. Long-time Tolkien fan\u00a0Stephen Colbert<\/a>\u00a0is co-writing the film\u00a0alongside\u00a0his son.\u00a0<\/p>\n Every returning and new actor in\u00a0The Lord\u00a0Of\u00a0The\u00a0Rings: The Hunt\u00a0For\u00a0Gollum\u00a0<\/p>\n As well as Serkis returning to his iconic motion-capture role of Gollum, there has been widespread speculation that other original cast members from Jackson\u2019s Lord Of The Rings trilogy will also be returning for\u00a0The Hunt\u00a0For\u00a0Gollum.\u00a0<\/p>\n In August last year,\u00a0Ian McKellen strongly hinted that he had signed on to return to his familiar role\u00a0of\u00a0Gandalf the Grey<\/a>. \u201cI\u2019m\u00a0not letting anyone else put on the pointy hat and beard if I can help it,\u201d he said.\u00a0<\/p>\n Last month,\u00a0Elijah Wood gave a similarly strong tease that he too is back on board to reprise his role\u00a0of\u00a0Frodo<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n The actor told\u00a0The Times<\/a>: \u201cIt\u00a0hasn\u2019t\u00a0been officially announced, but at a convention last August, Ian\u00a0sort of let\u00a0the cat out of the bag.\u00a0So\u00a0there is a good chance.\u00a0I\u2019m\u00a0not able to officially say anything until\u00a0it\u2019s\u00a0announced, but I will say\u00a0I\u2019m\u00a0thrilled with the prospect of another film.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s always a little nerve-racking when people talk about new movies for a world like Middle-earth. Everyone gets a little protective and hopes it retains its level of integrity, but this story is fun, thrilling. There is a genuine feeling of getting the band back together.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m just excited,\u201d he added, before responding to McKellen saying he wouldn\u2019t allow another actor to play Gandalf.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cWell, no, and I totally get that,\u201d Wood said. \u201cI certainly\u00a0wouldn\u2019t\u00a0want anybody else to play Frodo either as long as\u00a0I\u2019m\u00a0alive and able. And I can also\u00a0recognise\u00a0what fun that is going to be \u2014 when you are in the cinema and you see the hat turn around and\u00a0it\u2019s\u00a0Gandalf. Because\u00a0I\u2019m\u00a0also a fan, and excited to see how it all comes together.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n Neither Wood nor McKellen have been officially confirmed,\u00a0but one actor that has definitely signed\u00a0on\u00a0is Kate Winslet<\/a>. She is\u00a0reportedly set\u00a0to play the female lead, although the exact role is not yet known.\u00a0<\/p>\n