Overview

• Serkis will reprise his iconic motion-capture portrayal of Gollum while making his directorial debut in Middle-earth.
• Prep work is scheduled to start within months, with principal photography planned for early to mid-2026 in New Zealand.
• Peter Jackson, Fran Walsh and Philippa Boyens are producing to maintain the original trilogy’s creative vision.
• The film will explore Gollum’s psychologically complex journey during the years between The Hobbit and The Fellowship of the Ring.
• Filmmakers have expressed interest in bringing back Ian McKellen and Viggo Mortensen to reprise their iconic roles if circumstances allow.