Delay Announced for ‘The Hunt for Gollum’ Release Date

VANCOUVER, Canada — Fans eagerly anticipating the next addition to the Lord of the Rings cinematic universe will have to wait a full year longer for the release of ‘The Hunt for Gollum.’ During an appearance at Fan Expo Vancouver on February 23, director Andy Serkis announced that the film’s release had been pushed from December 2026 to December 2027.

Serkis, who reprises his role as Gollum, explained the reasoning behind the delay. “Yeah, it is not 2026,” he stated, confirming that the movie’s production process is still in its early writing stages. “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,” he added.

The Hunt for Gollum was first announced in May 2024, generating excitement as it aims to explore events closer to the timeline of Peter Jackson‘s original trilogy. Unlike earlier adaptations set centuries before these films, this story will take place just prior to ‘The Fellowship of the Ring,’ featuring several characters searching for the corrupted Stoor Hobbit.

Fans have speculated that the upcoming film may depict Gandalf’s first encounter with Gollum, which was briefly mentioned in ‘The Return of the King.’ However, no official details confirming the film’s plot or character lineup have been released as of yet.

Serkis’s investment in the project is substantial. As both director and lead actor, he has voiced his fascination with the complex character of Gollum. In a past interview, he remarked, “The Gollum/Sméagol character has always fascinated me because Gollum reflects the worst of human nature, whilst his Sméagol side is, arguably, quite sympathetic.”

The development of the film appears to be moving slowly, with fans hoping updates will become clearer as production progresses. The cinematic world of J.R.R. Tolkien continues to expand, with ‘The Hunt for Gollum’ being positioned as a pivotal piece in re-exploring Middle-earth.

As excitement mounts and fans reminisce about the original films, they will have to hold tight for new details and further developments on Serkis’s vision for Gollum’s story.