When Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum Begins Filming Revealed

Andy Serkis recently shared a major production update on The Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum, revealing when filming will begin on the highly anticipated Middle-earth spin-off. In a new interview, Serkis discussed the movie’s development timeline, script progress, and return to New Zealand. His comments arrive as fans await the December 2027 release of the next chapter in the Lord of the Rings franchise.

Andy Serkis reveals Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum starts shooting next year

Andy Serkis confirmed that filming for The Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum will begin in early to mid-2026. While promoting his animated Animal Farm adaptation at the Annecy Animation Festival, Serkis told Collider, “We will be shooting in the early to mid-part of next year, I guess.” He also stated, “We’re very early on in the process…we’re about to start a period of prep in the next few months or so.”

Serkis emphasized that the script is still being developed. “Yeah. We’re still working. We’re in very, very, sort of relatively early stages, but it’s getting very exciting,” he said. The team will shoot the movie in New Zealand, where all six previous Middle-earth films were filmed. Serkis added, “I’m incredibly excited to go back and work with my friends and family in New Zealand.”

The film is set to explore Gollum’s journey between The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings. Serkis noted, “We’re investigating in greater depth the character formerly known as Smeagol, but mostly known as Gollum.” The story will delve into the dark, lesser-known parts of Middle-earth while maintaining the original trilogy’s tone. “The sensibility of it will feel… close to that, and yet… very much part of the lore,” Serkis said.

Serkis directs and stars in the film, with Peter Jackson, Fran Walsh, and Philippa Boyens producing and actively involved. It releases on December 17, 2027.

Originally reported by Anubhav Chaudhry on SuperHeroHype.

Source: Comingsoon.net