Warner Bros. has announced that the first installment of its upcoming series of live-action “The Lord of the Rings” movies will be released in 2026. This film will center around the iconic character Gollum, portrayed by the talented actor Andy Serkis.
During an earnings call on Thursday, Warner Bros. Discovery CEO David Zaslav announced that Peter Jackson, the renowned filmmaker behind “The Lord of the Rings” trilogy, along with his partners Fran Walsh and Philippa Boyens, will be producing the upcoming movie. Zaslav also mentioned that the trio will be actively involved in every aspect of the film’s production.
The project is currently in the early stages of script development. It is being worked on by writers Walsh and Boyens, along with Phoebe Gittins and Arty Papageorgiou. According to Zaslav, the project will aim to explore storylines that have not yet been told.
Warner Bros. announced in a press release on Thursday morning that the film’s working title is “Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum.” The talented actor Andy Serkis will not only star in the film but also direct it, reprising his iconic role as Gollum. Ken Kamins will serve as the executive producer, alongside Serkis and Jonathan Cavendish from The Imaginarium.
In February 2023, Warner Bros. made an announcement about their plans to produce multiple films based on the beloved J.R.R. Tolkien books. The deal was brokered by studio leaders Mike De Luca and Pam Abdy, who had recently taken on their positions. The development of these projects will be overseen by WB label New Line Cinema. Embracer Group’s division, Freemode, secured the rights to adapt the books, including “The Lord of the Rings” and “The Hobbit,” through a venture called Middle-earth Enterprises.
Warner Bros. and director Kenji Kamiyama are set to release a new animated Middle-earth film titled “The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim” on December 13. This standalone movie takes place 200 years prior to the events of “The Hobbit.”
“We have witnessed the enduring popularity of the ‘Lord of the Rings’ film trilogy for over two decades. This is largely due to the unwavering dedication of Peter, Fran, and Philippa in preserving Tolkien’s legacy and ensuring that audiences can immerse themselves in the captivating world he created, staying true to his literary vision,” stated De Luca and Abdy on Thursday. They further expressed their honor in having them as partners for the two upcoming films. The addition of Andy as the director for ‘Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum’ strengthens our commitment to delivering excellence and contributing further to the rich cinematic history of the ‘Lord of the Rings’ franchise.”
Jackson, Walsh, and Boyens expressed their excitement about returning to Middle-earth alongside their collaborator, Andy Serkis. They referred to Serkis’ iconic character, Gollum, as “that Stinker” and mentioned his “unfinished business.” As lifelong fans of J.R.R. Tolkien’s expansive mythology, they felt honored and privileged to be working with Mike De Luca, Pam Abdy, and the Warner Bros. team on what they described as another epic adventure.
Andy Serkis expressed his excitement about embarking on another adventure into the unknown with his friends, Peter, Fran, and Philippa, who are the remarkable and unmatched guardians of Middle Earth. He also mentioned the Warner Bros team, Mike, and Pam, as well as the WETA and the filmmaking family in New Zealand, who will all be part of this thrilling journey. Serkis described the experience as “delicious,” highlighting his enthusiasm for the project.
The original “Lord of the Rings” trilogy, directed by Jackson, earned nearly $3 billion globally. Jackson’s subsequent trilogy, based on Tolkien’s “The Hobbit,” achieved the same level of success.
The first “LOTR” trilogy, directed by Jackson, featured a talented cast including Elijah Wood, Ian McKellen, Liv Tyler, Viggo Mortensen, Sean Astin, and Cate Blanchett. These three films garnered an impressive 30 Academy Award nominations and won 17 awards, including Best Picture for the 2003 film “The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King.”
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