Lord of the Rings: Hunt for Gollum has a new release window

Lord of the Rings: Hunt for Gollum is officially in plans, but the fans might have to wait a bit longer to see it on the big screen.

Hunt of Gollum will be the latest chapter from the cinematic adaptations of J. R. R. Tolkien's fictional world. The project was announced back in February 2023 as a part of the franchise's revamp plan. It came in the wake of The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit film trilogies that achieved critical and commercial success.

Eventually, in May 2024, Variety announced a potential release window for Lord of the Rings: Hunt for Gollum. The film was expected to come out toward the end of 2026. However, it will probably take longer to come to life, according to actor Andy Serkis, who is also directing it.

"Yeah, it is not 2026. It was originally going to be December 2026. It is going to be December 2027."

Serkis mentioned the film's postponed release window during his appearance at the Fan Expo Vancouver 2025 panel on February 23. He also shared an update about this upcoming film's writing process and filming window.

"We are right at the beginning of the writing process. We will be prepping later this year. Prep takes a good chunk of time, six or seven months, and then we will be shooting next year. So, it backs into that December 2027 release date."

Lord of the Rings: Hunt for Gollum: More details explored

Andy Serkis at the 2025 FAN EXPO New Orleans (Image via Getty)

Lord of the Rings: Hunt for Gollum will bring Andy Serkis back to the screen, reprising his role as Gollum. That's the only role he plays in this film. He will also be behind the camera, taking over the directing duties from Peter Jackson, who led the ship in The Lord of the Rings trilogy (2001-2003) and The Hobbit trilogy (2012-2014).

In May 2024, it was announced that Philippa Boyens and Fran Walsh, who co-wrote the previous adaptations, “will be involved every step of the way" in Lord of the Rings: Hunt for Gollum, along with filmmaker Peter Jackson.

At the time, Andy Serkis shared his excitement for this project.

“Yesssss, Precious. The time has come once more to venture into the unknown with my dear friends, the extraordinary and incomparable guardians of Middle-earth Peter, Fran, and Philippa. With Mike and Pam, and the Warner Bros team on the quest as well, alongside WETA and our film-making family in New Zealand, it’s just all too delicious…”

However, unlike the previous announcement from Variety, the fans will get to see Lord of the Rings: Hunt for Gollum later than anticipated.