Overview

• Speaking at London’s For the Love of Fantasy event on Aug. 17, McKellen told fans the film includes characters named Gandalf and Frodo and said production is slated to begin in May 2026.
• Warner Bros. has not formally confirmed returning cast, and outlets note it remains unclear whether McKellen or Elijah Wood will reprise their roles.
• Andy Serkis will direct and reprise Gollum, with Peter Jackson, Fran Walsh and Philippa Boyens returning to produce and help shape the screenplay.
• Positioned between The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings, the film focuses on the hunt for Gollum and a deeper exploration of Sméagol’s fractured psyche.
• Warner Bros. Discovery has labeled the project a top priority, and it is planned as the first of two new live-action Middle-earth films in development.