Warner Bros. has announced they’re returning to Middle-earth on the big screen in 2026, in a Hunt for Gollum film with Peter Jackson deeply involved in the process.
As WB has hinted at in the past, they’re committed to making more projects set within J.R.R. Tolkien’s iconic world of Middle-earth. During an early morning earnings call yesterday, they announced a new Lord of the Rings film is in development and set to arrive in 2026.
If that seems awfully soon, that’s because it’s been in the works for a while and the trio of Peter Jackson, Fran Walsh, and Philippa Boyens (who wrote all of The Lord of the Rings films and The Hobbit trilogy) are back on board developing the story/script. Furthermore, David Zaslav emphasized Peter Jackson will serve as an executive producer and “will be involved every step of the way,” in the development of the film. From the sounds of it, Jackson is set to be their “architect” of future Lord of the Rings projects, helping to guide them along and advise…which is a pretty great spot for him (and one he wanted to be for The Hobbit films).
A press release hit soon after which confirmed the film is currently working under the title, The Hunt for Gollum, and will see Andy Serkis reprise the iconic role on top of him directing the project!
“Yesssss, Precious,” Serkis said. “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 filmmaking family in New Zealand, it’s just all too delicious…”
Jackson, Walsh and Boyens added:
“It is an honour and a privilege to travel back to Middle-earth with our good friend and collaborator, Andy Serkis, who has unfinished business with that Stinker — Gollum! As life long fans of Professor Tolkien’s vast mythology, we are proud to be working with Mike De Luca, Pam Abdy and the entire team at Warner Bros. on another epic adventure!”
The Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum doesn’t have a specific release date just yet, but is set to arrive in 2026 (probably the Fall/Holiday time period).
