Entertainment news and discussion on TalkFuse.
‘The Hunt for Gollum’ Star Anya Taylor-Joy Has Not Read the ‘Lord of the Rings’ Books Yet, but Is ‘About to’ Soon
Anya Taylor-Joy, newly cast in "The Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum," has revealed she has never read Tolkien's books but is "about to" start. Speaking to Variety at the premiere of Apple TV's "Lucky," the actor explained she grew up believing fans had to choose between "Harry Potter" and "Lord of the Rings," only discovering during the Covid pandemic that she could enjoy both after watching the film trilogy.
Taylor-Joy plays Seren, a "trusted and lethal agent" of King Thranduil, in the Andy Serkis-directed prequel, joining newcomers Kate Winslet, Leo Woodall and Jamie Dornan, the latter replacing Viggo Mortensen as Aragorn. The film, set between "The Hobbit" and "The Fellowship of the Ring," also brings back Ian McKellen, Elijah Wood and Lee Pace, while Serkis reprises Gollum and has said Mortensen is "thrilled" about Dornan taking on the role.
Steelman: both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
Fans have legitimate reason for concern when a principal cast member hasn't read the source material beforehand. Tolkien's books represent decades of world-building and thematic depth that inform character development, motivation and the philosophical underpinnings of the narrative. When actors haven't engaged with this richness before beginning work, crucial nuances about their character's place in Middle-earth's history risk being missed. Honouring beloved source material requires that those bringing characters to life understand the full depth of their creation.
The case against
This concern misunderstands how film adaptation works in practice. Professional screenwriters and directors conduct the deep scholarly work on source material; they convey what matters for performance through the script and direction. Many acclaimed performances in literary adaptations have come from actors without prior familiarity with the books, trusting their craft and the creative team's vision. The true measure of Taylor-Joy's suitability will be her performance, not her preparation method.
Explained simply
The Lord of the Rings began as a series of fantasy novels by J.R.R. Tolkien, later adapted into films set in the fictional world of Middle-earth. The story follows groups of characters caught up in a struggle over a powerful ring, with Gollum among the figures drawn into its history.
The new film is set in the years between The Hobbit and The Fellowship of the Ring, two earlier parts of the saga. Andy Serkis, who played Gollum in the earlier films, is directing and will return to the role; several other actors from the film series are also returning. Anya Taylor-Joy is among the new cast, playing Seren, an agent serving the Elven king Thranduil.