# Andy Serkis returns as Gollum as new Middle-earth film begins

- URL: https://talkfuse.com/story/the-lord-of-the-rings-the-hunt-for-gollum-starts-filming-with-first-set-footage-of-andy-serkis-reviving-iconic-character/
- Published: 2026-07-15T08:32:06+00:00
- Updated: 2026-07-15T14:48:34+00:00
- Original publisher: Variety
- Original article: https://variety.com/2026/film/news/lord-of-the-rings-hunt-for-gollum-filming-set-footage-1236810966/
- Topics: Art, Celebrity, Culture, Entertainment, Film, Geopolitics, Politics

## Key points

- Filming has begun on “The Hunt for Gollum”.
- Andy Serkis returns as Gollum and directs the film.
- The new Middle-earth film is due on 17 December 2027.

## Summary

Warner Bros. has officially started production on “The Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum”, unveiling first behind-the-scenes footage of Andy Serkis returning as Gollum. The news matters because it confirms that the next Middle-earth film is now actively in production and shows that the project is closely tied to the team behind the earlier “Lord of the Rings” and “Hobbit” films. It also underlines Serkis’s unusually central role, as he is both directing the film and reprising one of the franchise’s most recognisable characters.

The short teaser shows Serkis on set, looking through the script, then moving into Gollum’s familiar crouched, feral pose while wearing a motion-capture suit, before cutting to sweeping shots of New Zealand, where filming is under way. The film is scheduled for release in cinemas on 17 December 2027 and reunites Serkis with Peter Jackson, Fran Walsh and Philippa Boyens. Reported returning cast members include Ian McKellen, Elijah Wood and Lee Pace, while new additions named in the report include Kate Winslet, Jamie Dornan, Leo Woodall and Anya Taylor-Joy.

## Coverage

- [Variety: Andy Serkis returns as Gollum as new Middle-earth film begins](https://variety.com/2026/film/news/lord-of-the-rings-hunt-for-gollum-filming-set-footage-1236810966/)
- [Polygon: Lord of the Rings Hunt for Gollum first footage released](https://www.polygon.com/lotr-hunt-for-gollum-first-footage-teaser-andy-serkis/)

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