The newest Lord of the Rings movie finally reveals its release date with a short roster of new and returning cast members.
Warner Bros. has officially confirmed that the release date for the highly anticipated The Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum will be on December 17, 2027, along with the return of Ian McKellen, Lee Pace, and Elijah Wood in their iconic roles.
Fifty Shades star Jamie Dornan will play the new Aragorn for this movie, in which, during its storyline, he is known as the Dúnedain ranger named Strider. The team behind the project has not provided a detailed explanation for why Viggo Mortensen will not return as the character, unlike the others, opting instead to cast a younger actor.
The Hunt for Gollum release date and cast members
The film is scheduled to hit cinemas on December 17, 2027, which is roughly one year and eight months from the time of the announcement.
Several cast members from the previous LOTR movies will reprise their roles in the upcoming movie, which includes the following:
- Andy Serkis as Gollum/Sméagol
- Ian McKellen as Gandalf the Grey
- Elijah Wood as Frodo Baggins
- Lee Pace as Thranduil
In addition to Jamie Dornan, Kate Winslet and Leo Woodall will take the non-canon roles of Marigol and Halvard, respectively. Marigol is the name the movie writers gave to Sméagol’s grandmother, while Halvard is another Dúnedain ranger who will likely accompany Strider in his search for Gollum.
Fans can expect some new elements in the upcoming film, as Andy Serkis, who plays Gollum, will also direct the project. Notably, Serkis recently lent his voice to Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, the 2025 Game of the Year winner, where he played the role of Renoir.
Meanwhile, Peter Jackson will step back from directing duties this time and instead serve as one of the film’s producers. Jackson has long been a key figure behind the live-action series, playing a key role in bringing Tolkien’s world to life on the big screen.
Ian McKellen, the oldest among the returning cast, joked in a 2024 interview that he would be open to reprising his role if another Lord of the Rings opportunity came his way, as long as he is still around.
McKellen has appeared in all live-action The Lord of the Rings films, but was absent from the recent animated feature The War of the Rohirrim, where his character was only briefly referenced toward the end.
What is The Hunt for Gollum movie about?
The story of The Hunt for Gollum is centered around the events in the short time skip that happened before The Fellowship of the Ring, especially between Bilbo’s birthday and Frodo’s departure from the Shire with the One Ring.
While Gandalf is busy investigating Bilbo’s ring, he realizes that Gollum might reveal its whereabouts to Sauron, so he asks for the help of his Dúnedain friend Strider to find the corrupted Stoor before their enemy does.
Stoors are a breed of Hobbit who once inhabited the Vales of Anduin. Due to their unique traits, such as beards and a heavier build, they are sometimes considered distinct from other Hobbit groups. This has led to ongoing fan debates over whether Gollum should be classified as a Hobbit or not.
Born a Stoor named Sméagol, Gollum came into possession of Sauron’s One Ring after his cousin Déagol accidentally discovered it while they were fishing in the Gladden Fields. Overcome by the Ring’s influence, Sméagol forcibly took it from him and, in a fit of rage, killed Déagol.
Under the One Ring’s influence, Sméagol lived a solitary life beneath the Misty Mountains, as Sauron’s power extended his lifespan and gradually altered his appearance, making him less Stoor-like over time.
Gollum’s fate changed when Bilbo Baggins took the Ring from him during the events of The Hobbit. Determined to reclaim his “precious,” Gollum left his lair and began searching for Bilbo at a time when darkness was rising across Middle-earth, with its source rooted in Mordor.
The movie will tell the story from Gollum’s perspective, offering a deeper look into his past and motivations while adding new layers to the familiar events of Middle-earth.