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Lord of the Rings’ Most Divisive Movie Officially Takes Over Netflix
*The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey* has become a surprise global streaming hit, ranking among Netflix’s ten most-watched films worldwide at the time of publication. Its renewed popularity comes as the *Lord of the Rings* franchise prepares to return to cinemas with *The Hunt for Gollum*, drawing fresh attention to Middle-earth films.
Released in 2012 and starring Martin Freeman as Bilbo Baggins, *An Unexpected Journey* followed years of development delays and a change in director: Guillermo del Toro was initially attached, before Peter Jackson took over. The upcoming film is scheduled for 17 December 2027, with Ian McKellen, Elijah Wood and Andy Serkis returning, alongside new cast members including Jamie Dornan, Kate Winslet and Anya Taylor-Joy; Lee Pace is also set to reprise his role as Thranduil.
In short
- *An Unexpected Journey* is among Netflix’s ten most-watched films worldwide.
- The 2012 film is finding a new audience.
- *The Hunt for Gollum* is due in cinemas in 2027.
Explained simply
The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey is the first of three films adapted from J.R.R. Tolkien’s novel The Hobbit, set in the same fantasy world as The Lord of the Rings. It follows Bilbo Baggins, played by Martin Freeman, as he joins a group of dwarves on a journey to reclaim their home from a dragon.
The film’s production was delayed for several years, and Guillermo del Toro left the director’s role before Peter Jackson took over. Jackson had directed the earlier Lord of the Rings films, and the Hobbit trilogy expanded the story of Middle-earth on screen.
The wider series is due to return to cinemas with The Hunt for Gollum, a planned film featuring characters and actors from the earlier films. That connection has brought renewed attention to the franchise and its different adaptations.