The next Lord of the Rings film, titled 'The Hunt for Gollum,' will be directed by Andy Serkis, who originated the motion-capture role of Gollum, with Peter Jackson co-writing and producing. Production is currently underway in New Zealand and targets a December 2027 release. The film will reunite several original cast members including Elijah Wood and Ian McKellen, alongside new actors such as Kate Winslet, Anya Taylor-Joy, and Jamie Dornan. Chronologically set between The Hobbit and the original trilogy, it arrives 23 years after Return of the King concluded the saga.

During a television interview, Sean Astin, famous for playing Samwise Gamgee, shared that he had once sought to audition for the Aragorn role during the original casting process, concerned that he was being typecast in less action-oriented parts. Casting director Victoria Burrows informed him this would not be feasible, and Viggo Mortensen ultimately claimed the warrior king role. Despite not landing Aragorn, Astin's performance as Sam garnered seven major award nominations and five wins. Astin will not appear in the upcoming film, though an unofficial spin-off project titled 'The Lord of the Rings: Shadow of the Past' involving Peter Jackson has been rumoured.