The hunt for Middle-earth is officially back on.
Peter Jackson has emerged from his director's chair to share an exciting update on 'The Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum,' even showing off some behind-the-scenes footage. It has been two years since the live-action spinoff was first announced, and with Andy Serkis directing and starring as the titular creature, fans are getting closer to a big-screen return to Tolkien's world.
Jackson shared in a new video that much of the original team is back, along with some fresh faces. He praised the work Serkis is doing, noting that the script is coming together beautifully and the film is looking amazing. But the real surprise came when Jackson introduced a famous "special partner" for a second project.
Peter Jackson's Surprise Announcement
Stephen Colbert, the superfan and outgoing host of 'The Late Show,' joined Jackson to announce a separate film titled 'The Lord of the Rings: Shadow of the Past.' According to the official synopsis from Warner Bros., the story takes place 14 years after Frodo leaves. It follows Sam, Merry, and Pippin as they retrace their original journey, while Sam's daughter, Elanor, uncovers a secret that explains why the War of the Ring was almost lost before it truly started.
Colbert explained that he was inspired by six early chapters of 'The Fellowship of the Ring' that were left out of the original movie trilogy. He wondered if those chapters, including the famous 'Fog on the Barrow-Downs,' could become a standalone story that remained faithful to both the books and Jackson's films. Colbert developed the idea with his son, Peter, and after showing it to Peter Jackson and screenwriter Philippa Boyens, the studio gave it the green light. When Jackson joked about whether Colbert actually had the time to work on it, Colbert pointed out that he’ll be looking for a new job starting this summer.
Image Courtesy: IMDb
'The Hunt for Gollum' Update
As for 'The Hunt for Gollum,' details remain a bit mysterious. While Andy Serkis is confirmed to be back in his motion-capture suit, fans are dying to know if other stars will return. Ian McKellen previously hinted that Gandalf and Frodo are both in the script, and Elijah Wood has said that while he can't officially confirm anything, a wizard is usually to be trusted. Wood also mentioned he wouldn't want anyone else playing Frodo as long as he's able to do it.
Despite early rumours that the Gollum story might be split into two parts, screenwriter Philippa Boyens clarified that it is definitely just one film. She described it as an intense story set between Bilbo's birthday party and the journey through the Mines of Moria.
'The Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum' is scheduled to hit theatres on 17th December, 2027.
