Hollywood has not finished exploring J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings universe. In fact, the Middle-earth saga is set to expand with a new addition, The Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum, directed by renowned actor-filmmaker Andy Serkis. Serkis is also expected to return as Gollum, while reports suggest that The Queen’s Gambit actress Anya Taylor-Joy is being tipped for the female lead role in the ever-evolving franchise.
The Hunt for Gollum’s cast receives new additions
According to industry insider DanielRPK, Anya Taylor-Joy and Leo Woodall are in discussions to play the female and male leads in the upcoming live-action Middle-earth film, respectively. The scooper also noted that details about the characters they are being considered to portray have not been revealed. However, speculation suggests that Taylor-Joy could play one of the Elves.
Meanwhile, other reports indicate that Leo Woodall is being eyed to portray a younger version of Aragorn in the film. If that proves to be the case, Viggo Mortensen, who portrayed Aragorn in the earlier Lord of the Rings films, will not be returning. It is understood that the producers had previously approached Mortensen about reprising the role, but the actor reportedly declined.
As of now, neither Taylor-Joy nor Woodall has publicly acknowledged their involvement in the project, suggesting that discussions may still be in the early stages.
The upcoming Middle-earth film will explore events that occur between The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings trilogy. The Hunt for Gollum is expected to take place shortly before the events of The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring. The story will follow Aragorn as he embarks on a mission to track down Gollum on Gandalf’s orders before the creature is captured by the forces of Mordor and forced to reveal information about the One Ring.
“I’m thrilled to return to the family that I’ve loved working with for many years, and a character that I cannot escape from,” Serkis told Metro last year.
Filming for the project is expected to begin in May this year, with the movie currently slated for release on December 17, 2027.