Warner Bros is actively looking to tap into The Lord of the Rings franchise more than ever before in the coming years. Several spin-off movies are already being worked on to give fans another journey into Middle Earth. One is The Hunt for Gollum, which will be released in 2026.
Audiences will again witness Andy Serkis’ iconic character in a new adventure that will entirely focus on him as the lead. Considering the character has previously been part of an ensemble cast, the idea of him taking on a lead role is virtually unknown to Lord of the Rings fans. However, one scene in The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey showcases real potential.
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What Doubt Is There Over The Hunt For Gollum?
The Lord of the Rings franchise will always attract an audience due to its overwhelming popularity, whether based on the classic novels, Peter Jackson’s movies, or a combination. However, a spin-off movie is always going to provide a risk regardless of how popular the franchise is, even though there is an established world built up in Middle Earth.
Gollum is a complex character that can be interpreted as a villain, but he also draws sympathy from audiences based on what happens throughout his life and how he reaches that point. This means that the movie lacks a stereotypical hero in the lead role, which people expect when it comes to fantasy films like this. That will provide an obstacle for Serkis as the lead actor and director in a bid to make this compelling and draw people into wanting to watch it.
It’s also in a tricky spot within the timeline as it isn’t a prequel or a sequel, with this taking place all around the starting point of The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring. This means that the majority of viewers know how the story ends for Gollum and what he’s going to go through, which is another reason why some people doubt whether this is something they want in the first place.
Why The Hobbit Proves The Potential
Everyone knows how entertaining Gollum can be from the scenes he has in The Lord of the Rings movies, but it is in his interactions with Bilbo Baggins in The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey showcase the potential that this particular film could have. Considering it will be at the start of The Lord of the Rings trilogy, Gollum will be less worn and beaten, offering the chance to showcase a sharper version of the character Bilbo interacts with. Having him in The Hobbit as a cameo led to one of the most talked about scenes in the entire prequel trilogy, and the fact everyone was talking about Gollum being back proves there is a desire to see him more.
He’s an emotionally complex character, shown to some degree in past movies. However, a movie entirely dedicated to him can dive into him in a whole new way, which will engage audiences with the content. Audiences loved watching Gollum and Bilbo go back and forth with their riddles, and that’s because he was a different character to interact with. People will enjoy those types of scenes in The Hunt for Gollum as he should mingle with other characters to create scenes that are sure to be dark, menacing, and fascinating.
What The Character Could Do In The Hunt For Gollum
The Hunt for Gollum is confirmed to occur between Bilbo’s 111th birthday and the Fellowship reaches the Mines of Moria, giving the writing team an excellent period to dive into. It’s expected that there will be links to The Lord of the Rings trilogy due to the timeframe, but the main focal point is going to be what Gollum is doing during that time.
Some information is known about that via the novels, but when it comes to confirmed news, the plot is being kept tightly under wraps to build excitement. If done right, the character’s journey around Middle Earth has the potential to be dark and entertaining, allowing people to explore the world in more detail through the lens of a well-known character.
This spin-off also has the potential of bringing back other Lord of the Rings characters to provide audiences with a blast of nostalgia and to connect the movies even more. It is known that Gandalf sends Aragorn to try and hunt down Gollum before the Fellowship is brought together because the wizard is aware he has plenty of information to share. Therefore, bringing those iconic characters back while also showcasing what Gollum learns could be extremely entertaining if he’s given the chance to showcase his creativity, as was the case in The Hobbit.
Check out The Lord of the Rings Extended Editions on Blu-ray. Immerse yourself in the complete Peter Jackson trilogy with additional scenes and extended storylines that delve deeper into J.R.R. Tolkien’s masterpiece. Witness the fellowship’s quest, epic battles, and the ultimate confrontation against the dark forces of Sauron, all presented in unparalleled detail and clarity for the truly immersive cinematic experience of Blu-ray.