MANILA, Philippines — Ian McKellen and Elijah Wood are set to reprise their roles in “The Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum,” as Warner Bros. confirmed a cast that also includes new additions Kate Winslet and Jamie Dornan ahead of the film’s planned 2027 release.
The announcement was made during the studio’s presentation at CinemaCon, where Warner Bros. outlined its plans to return to Middle-earth with a new live-action feature centered on one of the franchise’s most enigmatic characters.
Andy Serkis will direct the film and reprise his role as Gollum and Sméagol, a performance he originated in Peter Jackson’s original trilogy. Also returning is Lee Pace, who will once again portray the Elven king Thranduil.
Joining the cast for the first time are Winslet, who will play a character named Marigol, and Dornan, cast as Strider, the alias used by Aragorn during the early part of his journey. Leo Woodall has also been cast as Halvard, a fellow ranger who accompanies Strider.
The film is set between the events of “The Hobbit” and “The Fellowship of the Ring,” and follows Aragorn’s mission to track down Gollum before the creature can reveal the location of the One Ring to Sauron. The story draws from material found in J.R.R. Tolkien’s appendices, expanding on a chapter that was only briefly referenced in the original books.
The screenplay is written by Philippa Boyens, Fran Walsh, Phoebe Gittins and Arty Papageorgiou. Jackson, Boyens, Walsh and Zane Weiner are attached as producers.
“The Hunt for Gollum” marks the first live-action return to Tolkien’s world since 2014’s “The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies.” The earlier “Lord of the Rings” films, released between 2001 and 2003, were both critical and commercial successes, with “The Return of the King” winning the Academy Award for best picture.
Warner Bros. said the film is scheduled to open in theaters on Dec. 17, 2027.
