Andy Serkis Says THE HUNT FOR GOLLUM Will Feel Like THE LORD OF THE RINGS Trilogy — GeekTyrant
Andy Serkis is officially headed back to Middle-earth as an actor and director, and he just gave a promising update on The Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum . It's exactly the kind of reassurance fans of the original trilogy have been hoping for.
In a recent interview with Collider while promoting his upcoming adaptation of Animal Farm , Serkis shared that while the film is still in its early stages, real movement is happening soon.
Prep work is ramping up in the next few months, with filming set to begin in early to mid-2026. The release is slated for December 2027. Serkis talked about the film saying:
'We're very early on in the process. We've been talking about the film over the course of the last year. We're about to start a period of prep in the next few months or so.
'We will be shooting in the early to mid-part of next year, I guess, and then it'll be as long as it takes to shoot, which — it's a sizable movie — all ready for a December 2027 release.
'I'm incredibly excited to go back and work with my friends and family in New Zealand and actually do something which is, I think, going to be surprising, and yet very much part of the lore and the feel of the trilogy.
'The sensibility of it will feel, I think, close to that, and yet we're investigating in greater depth the character formerly known as Smeagol, but mostly known as Gollum.'
Serkis is aiming for the same tone, scope, and heart of Peter Jackson's The Lord of the Rings trilogy. That should ease some anxiety from fans still smarting from the uneven Hobbit films or skeptical of more Tolkien spin-offs.
Set during the events of The Fellowship of the Ring , The Hunt for Gollum follows Gandalf's pursuit of Gollum after realizing Bilbo's ring is actually the One Ring. It's an interquel that fills in a crucial gap, and Serkis, who will also reprise his iconic role as Gollum, is the only confirmed cast member so far. But, Ian McKellen is also expected to return.
Lord of the Rings fans are pretty protective of the original trilogy's legacy. Expanding on that world is always a high-wire act. But Serkis isn't rushing in. He's taking his time, planning carefully, and grounding the project in what made the originals so special. His deep connection to the material, and to Gollum in particular, makes him a uniquely qualified guide for this chapter. I hoipe that he pulls it off.
If this movie delivers on what Serkis is promising, a character-focused journey with the emotional and mythic weight of the trilogy, it could be a powerful return to form.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Geek Tyrant
7 hours ago
- Geek Tyrant
Frank Reynolds Crashes Middle-earth in Unhinged LORD OF THE RINGS Mashup Video — GeekTyrant
If you've ever wanted to watch Middle-earth descend into absolute degeneracy, this 'It's Always Sunny in Middle-Earth' video delivers with chaotic precision. In this deranged fan edit by Your_Kryptonite7, Danny DeVito's Frank Reynolds stumbles straight out of Philly and into The Lord of the Rings , turning Tolkien's epic into a fever dream of gunfire, profanity, and gross bodily concerns. Frank doesn't care about rings or destiny, he's here to harass Gollum about STDs, ask Sauron if he can resurrect his 'dead whore wife,' and generally cause the kind of havoc that would make even Saruman think twice. It's like watching a trash goblin invade a poetry recital, and it hilariously works.
Yahoo
13 hours ago
- Yahoo
2025's biggest and most surprising movie hit is coming to Max soon, so you can shout 'Chicken Jockey!' at the screen as many times as you like
When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. A Minecraft Movie will be available to stream on Max very soon Warner Bros. has confirmed it'll arrive on June 20 The biggest film of 2025 has almost reached the $1 billion mark globally Get ready to shout "chicken jockey!" at your screens, everyone, because A Minecraft Movie has finally dug up a streaming release date. Well, that is in countries where Warner Bros. Discovery's (WBD) super streamer Max, i.e., one of the world's best streaming services, is available. The Jason Momoa and Jack Black-starring film will launch on the service this Friday (June 20), so you don't have long to wait to check out one of the highest-grossing new movies of the year at home in nations including the US, Australia, New Zealand, and Singapore. Viewers in places where Max isn't available, such as the UK, Canada, and India, can still watch Minecraft's movie adaptation at home. However, you'll have to rent or buy it from Amazon, Apple TV, the Microsoft Store, and other online stores. Hopefully, it won't be long until deals are struck with Max's distribution partners in these nations, so that viewers can watch on services like Sky, Crave, and JioHotstar. Debuting in theaters on March 4, A Minecraft Movie stars Momoa, Black, Danielle Brooks, Emma Myers, and Sebastien Hansen as five humans transported to the Overworld, aka Minecraft's cube-based dimension where the only limit to creativity is your imagination. There, they must help to defeat the nefarious Malgosha, who wants to rule the Overworld using a magical artifact known as the Orb of Dominance. Not many people expected A Minecraft Movie to be such a huge hit. Despite the enduring popularity of Mojang's hugely successful video-game namesake, I was one of those who expected its film reimagining to fall flat on its face. And my belief didn't waver after watching it – indeed, as part of my A Minecraft Movie review, I said it wasn't the wildly creative blockbuster video-game film adaptation I was hoping for. I'm not afraid to admit that I underestimated how wildly successful it would be, though. Per BoxOfficeMojo, A Minecraft Movie has raked in over $951.51 million worldwide since it debuted in theaters. That makes it the biggest money-spinner of the year in the western world (China's animated fantasy flick Ne Zha 2 has reportedly made an eye-popping $1.89 billion, with $1.82 billion made domestically in that nation). Disney's Lilo & Stitch remake could surpass A Minecraft Movie before the former's theatrical run ends – at the time of writing, Lilo & Stitch has amassed $858.3 million globally. However, thanks to its game namesake's worldwide fanbase and those viral TikTok videos of chaotic A Minecraft Movie screenings, Warner Bros' film remake may yet hold onto its box office crown – at least until Superman and/or The Fantastic Four: First Steps arrive and potentially earn more money. 'They were taken out of context': A Minecraft Movie director responds to fan backlash over the film adaptation's visuals 'We weren't able to do it': A Minecraft Movie's Jared Hess explains why one of its funniest scenes isn't in the final cut 'We had to have the same approach': A Minecraft Movie's simple title was chosen for one very big reason, director says
Yahoo
17 hours ago
- Yahoo
SIFF 2025: The Premier Launchpad for Chinese Movies and Their Global Promotion
SHANGHAI, June 21, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- The 27th Shanghai International Film Festival (SIFF) is currently in full swing, vividly demonstrating the booming momentum of Chinese-language movies. Across its five core sections and a series of themed events, Chinese-language movies are making a resounding statement—emerging not merely as cultural treasures, but as a globally impactful cinematic force that demands attention. In the Main Competition, heavyweights like Cao Baoping's ONE WACKY SUMMER, Qiu Sheng's MY FATHER'S SON, and Wang Tong's debut WILD NIGHTS, TAMED BEASTS demonstrate the industry's ability to blend artistic vision with commercial appeal. Meanwhile, the Asian New Talent section highlights emerging voices: Bian Zhuo's AS THE WATER FLOWS, Cheng Liang's ODDS BEATER, Qiu Yujie's SEVEN DAYS, Shi Renfei's THE LAST SUMMER, and Fang Liang's WATER CAN GO ANYWHERE, prove that the next generation of Chinese-language filmmakers is ready to carry the torch of this cinematic powerhouse. Among those movies, AS THE WATER FLOWS delves into the complexities of parent-child relationships and inter-generational conflict. "This film resonates deeply with every family," Actor Li Zhenping said, "Audiences may interpret it differently, but they share a common hope: for their own families to grow better and more fulfilling." Director Cheng Liang tackled the ubiquitous subject of China's national college entrance examination, the gaokao, in his movietic work "ODDS BEATER." He said: "We focus on the gaokao but go beyond merely depicting it. Unlike some typically rousing stories, we employ a more nuanced approach to conveying the dilemmas." Beyond the competitions, SIFF also features the Chinese Movie Blockbuster Showcase, where nine movies were unveiled, including: DONGJI RESCUE, STRANGE TALES OF LIAOZHAI: LANRUO TEMPLE, A COOL FISH 2, GIFT FROM A CLOUD, THE LYCHEE ROAD, ASSASSIN IN RED 2, MAN HUANG JIN DI, ECHOES OF ENCOUNTER, and I KNOW WHO YOU ARE. These films collectively showcase the diverse grandeur of Chinese movie in 2025. Guan Hu's DONGJI RESCUE, shot with IMAX technology, recounts a WWII rescue mission. Producer Liang Jing noted, "Many of them explored their untapped potential and made big breakthroughs in acting. Actress Ni Ni took special body building exercises for her character." Furthermore, as an integral part of Chinese cinema, Hong Kong films have long been a driving force for innovation and exchange within the Chinese-language film industry. The festival also hosted the "Hong Kong New Power Projects Showcase" forum, focusing on industry collaboration and innovation. Meanwhile, the "New Opportunities for Southeast Asian and Chinese-Language Cinema" forum brought together producers and distributors from Hong Kong and across the region to explore co-production opportunities and cross-border marketing strategies. As Mr. Mak Sing Hei said: "As an important platform for promoting cultural exchanges in the film industry, the Shanghai International Film Festival has always been actively involved, hoping to provide opportunities for the display and development of Hong Kong film works and talents." View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE SIFF Error while retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error while retrieving data Error while retrieving data Error while retrieving data Error while retrieving data
