Upcoming movie to take fans on an unexpected journey through time in telling the story of Sméagol.
A new Spy Report collaboration with Knight Edge Media brings what looks like a leaked, possibly official, synopsis for the upcoming feature film The Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum. While we cannot absolutely verify if it’s a “final” version, the story points hinted at align with previous rumors, leaks, casting auditions, and even things Ian Mckellen has said.
TheOneRing.net reached out to WB for comment or confirmation, but they had nothing to share at this time; nor had anyone in New Zealand.
Film Synopsis
Here is the full text as sent to us via spy report. Reminder, you can drop us inside info (or casual info!) to spymaster ~at~ theonering.net
Before the Fellowship, one creature’s obsession holds the key to Middle-earth’s survival — or its demise. In The Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum, we meet young Smeagol — an outsider drawn to trinkets and mischief — long before The One Ring consumed him and began his tragic descent into the tortured, deceitful creature Gollum. With the ring lost and carried away by Bilbo Baggins, Gollum finds himself compelled to leave his cave in search of it.
Gandalf the Grey calls upon Aragorn, still known as the ranger Strider, to track the elusive creature whose knowledge of the whereabouts of the ring could tip the balance toward the Dark Lord Sauron. Set in the shadowed time between Bilbo’s birthday disappearance and the Fellowship’s formation, this perilous journey through Middle-earth’s darkest corners reveals untold truths, tests the resolve of its future king, and explores the fractured soul and backstory of Gollum, one of Tolkien’s most enigmatic characters.
Directed by original cast member Andy Serkis, produced by Peter Jackson, and written & produced by Fran Walsh and Phillipa Boyens — the creative team behind the Oscar-winning trilogy — this live-action movie bridges the beloved films with new characters, returning heroes, and a deeply engaging origin story that resets the stage for, and changes everything you know about the legendary Lord of the Rings trilogy.
Deconstructing Marketing Language
There’s a lot to unpack here, so staffers Greendragon and Quickbeam spent the second hour of TORN Tuesday analyzing every word. Watch below or on Youtube.
The most apparently surprising part of the synopsis – a confirmation we will be seeing young Sméagol. Is director Andy Serkis inspired by Young Sheldon, or young Anakin from The Phantom Menace, or even the merchandising hit “Baby Yoda” Grogu?
Another interesting thing is the calling out of Aragorn by name, which implies huge boots to fill for some new actor as they recast the role without Viggo Mortensen. Also of note is the inclusion of Fran Walsh, part of the Oscar-winning trifecta accompanying Peter Jackson and Philippa Boyens. They start filming in New Zealand in July for a December 2027 release.
We will have more analysis in the coming days, but what do you think? Join the live daily chat on Discord.
This week in The Lord of the Rings news with Bakshi, board games, film budgets, and the latest gossip for movies, TV shows and merch!
Quick recap
Justin and Clifford hosted their weekly Tolkien-focused show TORN Tuesday, discussing upcoming content and various Lord of the Rings-related projects including new films, board games, and animated adaptations. The hosts covered technical preparations for their broadcasts, shared updates on casting and production news for upcoming projects, and discussed the use of AI technology in de-aging actors and visual effects. The show concluded with personal updates from the hosts and a reminder for viewers to engage with the community, including a rewatch announcement for Rings of Power and discussions about potential anniversary screenings.
Summary
The Lord of the Rings new board game and Bakshi Blu-ray
Clifford and Justin discussed Ralph Bakshi’s animated Lord of the Rings film, which is being re-released on Blu-ray this week. Clifford ranked it as number 4 out of 10 Lord of the Rings movies, citing its impact as the first cinematic adaptation of the story. They also talked about the growing subreddit for the recent anime film, The War of the Rohirrim, which has reached 4,000 members six months after its release. Additionally, Justin announced a new board game called Lord of the Rings: Fate of the Fellowship, designed by Matt Leacock.
Viggo Mortensen Wins a Writing award
After a lengthy discussion about a new board game called “Fate of the Fellowship,” which Clifford expressed excitement about and planned to purchase. They also talked about Viggo Mortensen’s recent success, including his directing debut and winning a Western screenplay award, which Justin suggested could lead to more involvement from Mortensen in future projects, particularly for Warner Brothers.
Justin and Clifford discussed the upcoming film “The Hunt for Gollum,” directed by Andy Serkis, which is set to be shot in New Zealand in early to mid-2024 and is expected to be a significant production. They debated whether the film would be as expensive as reported, considering its smaller narrative scope compared to previous large-scale productions like “The Lord of the Rings” and “The Hobbit” trilogies. Clifford suggested that the journalist’s description of it being one of the most expensive future films in New Zealand might be an exaggeration due to rising production costs. Additionally, they briefly discussed Andy Serkis’s upcoming projects, including “Animal Farm” and “Batman 2,” and Justin shared some personal news about a co-host leaving Torn Tuesday.
Clifford Denies Bilbo Role Rumors
Clifford Broadway, known for his role as a stage actor, humorously denied rumors that he would be taking over the role of Bilbo Baggins in the upcoming “Hunt for Gollum” movie, despite a playful costume test shared by Justin. Justin confirmed that the studio had approved the announcement, but Clifford insisted he was not involved in the production. The conversation included lighthearted banter about potential casting and a mock announcement of Clifford as a body double for Gollum, which he playfully embraced while denying any official involvement.
AI De-Aging in “Hunt for Gollum”
Clifford and Justin discussed the use of AI technology for de-aging actors in the potential “Hunt for Gollum” project, focusing on Orlando Bloom and Ian Holm. Clifford expressed approval for using AI for visual effects but opposed its use in creating new artwork, emphasizing the importance of respecting original artists’ work. They also considered recasting roles and the potential challenges of using AI for characters like Saruman, with Clifford suggesting that fans might have mixed reactions to fully CGI characters. The conversation highlighted the evolving technology and its implications for film production, with Justin noting Peter Jackson’s openness to using AI in his projects.
Prime Video’s “Rings of Power” Updates
Clifford and Justin discussed various updates and rumors about upcoming projects and casting. They shared news about Amazon’s secrecy regarding actor roles for their show, and Justin revealed that Jamie Campbell Bower, known as JCB, might be playing Bungo Baggins *sarcastically*. They also discussed the hiring of a new cinematographer, Gavin Finney, for “The Rings of Power” Season 3, highlighting his experience with video walls and natural lighting. Clifford shared excitement about Ryan Gosling’s upcoming role in a live-action adaptation of “Dragon’s Lair.” Lastly, Justin mentioned that Hugo Weaving, who worked on “The Matrix,” was brought to “The Lord of the Rings” project by Barry Osbourne.
Immersive 8K Movie Experience
Justin shared his experience of watching The Matrix at Cosm, a new dome-shaped cinema in Los Angeles that offers an immersive 8K movie experience with surround sound and interactive food service. The venue, which holds around 500 people, features a 360-degree screen that enhances the movie with additional CGI elements, and tickets cost $100 for the full experience including themed food and drinks. Justin highly recommended the unique cinematic experience, which is scheduled to run until August, and Clifford expressed interest in potentially seeing a Lord of the Rings film in the same format.
The hosts discussed the upcoming 25th anniversary of The Fellowship of the Ring and its potential screening in domes, expressing hope that Warner Bros would organize such an event at COSM. They announced a rewatch of Rings of Power, with the next episode scheduled for Sunday at noon Pacific time, and encouraged viewers to join the Discord community for discussions every Sunday at 3pm ET.
This article uses A.I. to recap the hour-long TORN Tuesday podcast, embedded above from YouTube.
The Hunt for Gollum, directed by Andy Serkis, will herald a new phase of Middle-earth moviegoing.
Per Variety, Warner Bros Discovery has confirmed the release date of the next LOTR film for December 17, 2027. It seems the title “The Hunt for Gollum” is here to stay, after some early confusion over the same title of a fan-film released over 10 years ago. Filming expected to take place early next year in New Zealand.
Andy Serkis previously directed “Mowgli: Legend of the Jungle” and “Venom: Let There Be Carnage” in addition to starring in the Planet of the Apes and Star Wars sequel movies.
Peter Jackson, Fran Walsh and Philippa Boyens are producing and “will be involved every step of the way.” Boyens earlier told Empire Magazine, “The Hunt for Gollum is quite an intense story that falls after the birthday party of Bilbo and before the Mines of Moria. It’s a specific chunk of incredible untold story, told through the perspective of this incredible creature.”
No word yet on any casting, but the old gang of actors have expressed public interest in returning to Middle-earth including Liv Tyler, Orlando Bloom, Ian Mckellen and Viggo Mortensen.
