Andy Serkis is back inside Gollum's head, and by his own account it's costing him sleep. In a new interview with The Times, picked up by Deadline, Serkis said returning to the character for The Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum, which he is both directing and starring in, has been "insane," leaving him waking at night unsure whether he's directing Gollum or Gollum is directing him.
Quick answer
The Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum is a Warner Bros. live-action film set to open in theaters on December 17, 2027 in the US. Andy Serkis directs and returns as Gollum/Sméagol, a role he first played over 25 years ago. Peter Jackson, Fran Walsh and Philippa Boyens, the team behind the original trilogy, are producing. There's no trailer or streaming date yet: it's a theatrical release first.
What Serkis said
Per Deadline's write-up, Serkis described living with Gollum for so long that his already restless sleep has gotten worse, with the two of them seeming to argue in his head at night. In a separate interview the same week, he talked about actors being changed by the characters they play, and said it can take a long time to come down from one. Paraphrased, the takeaway is simple: he's deep in it, and he's treating this as more than a cameo with a famous voice.
The setup
Warner Bros. first announced the film in May 2024 as the start of a new run of Middle-earth movies. It was originally pencilled in for 2026 before moving to December 2027, a slot that echoes the December releases of the original trilogy. The title points to a story Tolkien only sketched: the search for Gollum before The Fellowship of the Ring, after Gandalf realizes how much the creature knows about the Ring. Beyond Serkis, Warner Bros. hasn't confirmed the cast, so treat any names you see in reports as unconfirmed until the studio announces them.
The Middle-earth picture
This is the first live-action Lord of the Rings film since the Hobbit trilogy ended in 2014. The most recent theatrical Middle-earth film is the anime feature The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim, directed by Kenji Kamiyama in 2024, which you can rate on SenpaiRanks. Big franchises are all digging into old characters right now: Star Wars just ruled out an Adam Driver return in The Hunt for Ben Solo, and the next James Bond casting is still in screen tests.
What to watch for
The next real news will be cast confirmations and a first teaser. With the film more than a year out, expect a trailer some time in 2027. Until then, our movies section tracks release dates, and our 2027 Best Animated Feature predictions cover the animated side of the awards race.
Frequently asked questions
Q: When does The Hunt for Gollum come out?
A: Warner Bros. has it dated for December 17, 2027 in US theaters.
Q: Who plays Gollum in The Hunt for Gollum?
A: Andy Serkis, who also directs the film.
Q: Is Peter Jackson involved in The Hunt for Gollum?
A: Yes. Peter Jackson, Fran Walsh and Philippa Boyens are producing.
Q: Is there a trailer for The Hunt for Gollum?
A: Not yet. No full trailer has been released as of November 2026.
Q: Where will The Hunt for Gollum stream?
A: No streaming date has been announced. It opens in theaters first.