The time has come for us to revisit Middle-Earth on the big screens, as Warner Bros. Pictures and New Line Cinema have dated The Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum. Eager fans will be able to catch the latest entry into the franchise will be able to do so on December 17, 2027 (h/t Variety).
Taking place during the events of The Fellowship of the Ring, The Hunt for Gollum will head into uncharted cinematic territory by fleshing out the titular search for the possessor of the One Ring. With Aragorn and Gandalf keen to nip the growing troubles in the bud, it will be interesting to see just how that will be presented on screen.
Andy Serkis, who famously brought Gollum to life with his acting, will be directing and starring. He is joined by the team of Peter Jackson, Fran Walsh, and Philippa Boyens, who were all instrumental behind the original trilogy. Whether the likes of Ian McKellen and Viggo Mortensen will return once more is still up in the air, but it would definitely fulfil that nostalgia quota if the stars are back in these iconic roles.
The December date for The Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum was perhaps predictable, seeing that each of the live-action films has premiered in the same month. The Fellowship of the Ring arrived on December 19 back in 2001, followed by The Two Towers on December 21 in 2002, and rounded out by The Return of the King on December 17 the following year.
As big as the franchise is, there is still a need to fend off competition from other potential blockbuster releases. Disney has an unknown Star Wars film set for the same release window, and it would make for interesting viewing to see just which marquee property will come out on top.
After the relative disappointment of The War of Rohirrim, the runway is clear for The Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum to return the franchise to its rightful place at the top of the pile. At least, that’s the hope as Middle-Earth beckons once more.
