Andy Serkis recently told Metro that he is heading to New Zealand this month to begin work on “The Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum,” the new “Rings” movie that he is starring in and directing. Warner Bros. has already announced the movie will open in theaters Dec. 17, 2027. “Gollum” will be the first live-action “Rings” movie since 2014’s “The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies,” directed by Peter Jackson.

“I’m very excited to go back. I leave for New Zealand on Saturday [Sept. 6],” Serkis shared, his voice tinged with nostalgia and anticipation. “We’re going down to start prep and working on it, because I’m directing. 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.” There was a wistful honesty in his words, as if Gollum had become more than a role—more like a shadow that walks beside him, always present, always calling him back to Middle-earth.

Warner Bros. first announced “The Hunt for Gollum” in summer 2024 and originally said it would be ready for theaters in 2026. It then got delayed to December 2027. Serkis is directing the tentpole and once again starring in the title role, which he’s been playing via motion capture since 2002’s “The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers.” Serkis’ directorial efforts include “Mowgli: Legend of the Jungle” and “Venom: Let There Be Carnage.” But Gollum remains his most iconic creation—one that has defined his career and shaped the very future of performance capture in cinema.

Peter Jackson, who directed “The Lord of the Rings” and “The Hobbit” trilogies, is producing “The Hunt for Gollum” with longtime “Rings” collaborators Fran Walsh and Philippa Boyens. Warner Bros. stressed when announcing “Gollum” that the trio “will be involved every step of the way,” ensuring the film remains deeply rooted in the spirit of Tolkien’s world.

Boyens previously told Empire magazine that “The Hunt for Gollum” is “quite an intense story” that “falls after the birthday party of Bilbo and before the Mines of Moria. It’s a specific chunk of incredible untold story, told through the perspective of this incredible creature.” The film promises to explore the fractured soul of Gollum like never before—an intimate journey through guilt, longing, and the haunting echoes of a life lost to the corrupting pull of the One Ring.

Original “Rings” cast members like Ian McKellen (Gandalf), Orlando Bloom (Legolas) and Viggo Mortensen (Aragorn) have all expressed interest in returning for the new film should the story make sense for their characters to appear, although no additional casting has been confirmed.

McKellen revealed at London’s For Love of Fantasy event in August that Gandalf, the character he played, and Frodo, played by Elijah Wood, would be back for “The Hunt for Gollum.” It’s unclear at this time in what capacity the characters will be featured—but for fans, the mere possibility is enough to stir the heart, reigniting the magic of a saga that has endured through generations.