The Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum has officially started production, marking the occasion with a unique teaser – and a hidden Middle-earth message.

As you can see above, the first day of filming sees director and Gollum actor Andy Serkis stride onto an interior stage in – what else? – a motion-capture suit.

From there, Serkis begins 'filming' the first scene of the latest Lord of the Rings movie, transforming into Gollum and spitting 'action' at the camera.

The teaser then transports us to a more familiar locale in New Zealand, which provided the backdrop for The Lord of the Rings trilogy.

Then, it ends with a message written in Cirth, a fictional runic language invented by J.R.R. Tolkien.

Don't worry, it's already been deciphered by StarlightAndLife on Reddit. It reads, 'Something precious awaits.' A perfect tagline if you ask us.

Set prior to The Fellowship of The Ring, The Hunt for Gollum charts Aragorn aiming to track down Gollum. Lord of the Rings veterans Sir Ian McKellen and Elijah Wood reprise their roles of Gandalf and Frodo respectively. They are joined in the cast by Anya Taylor-Joy, Lee Pace, Leo Woodall, and Jamie Dornan, who takes over from Viggo Mortensen as Aragorn.

Andy Serkis also recently revealed The Hunt for Gollum would be utilizing AI with some de-aging effects but tempered any controversy by telling Variety that "every shot is created in a traditional way."

The Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum is set for release on December 17, 2027. For more, check out our guides on how to watch the Lord of the Rings movies in order and The Lord of the Rings timeline.

Andy Serkis has only completed a week of filming on The Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum, but he's already being questioned on his filmmaking techniques. The director, who also plays Gollum in the movie, recently opened up about how they're using AI in the upcoming prequel.

Asked by Variety if he plans to use AI in the movie, Serkis replied: "Not at present, other than some of the de-aging. There's a little bit of de-aging for some of the characters and machine learning is part of the process. When you think about it, in the original Lord of the Rings films, Peter [Jackson] created MASSIVE, which was a program which allowed 1000s of orcs to all have their own individual mindset. So that is a brilliant example of an incredible use of AI."

However, Serkis did go on to clarify that they're not planning on using AI beyond this. "We’re not creating AI shots in our movie, every shot is created in a traditional way," he added. "One of the things actually that I really wanted to do with this film was to bring back all of the great filmmaking skills, from miniatures to prosthetics and marry them up, because that’s my taste. I like it when you mix up different filmmaking techniques."

Serkis has previously been quite open-minded about the use of AI in filmmaking, adding in the same interview that while it can't replicate performances, it can be used as a "creative tool". His comments are similar to those made recently by Lord of the Rings director Peter Jackson, who is also acting as an executive producer on The Hunt for Gollum.

Per Variety, he said at Cannes earlier this year that although AI is "going to destroy the world," when it comes to filmmaking, "I don’t dislike it at all." He added: "I mean, to me, it’s just a special effect. It's no different from other special effects."

The Hunt for Gollum is set between the events of The Hobbit and The Fellowship of the Ring, telling the story of Aragorn's adventure to track down Gollum before Sauron can find him. Jamie Dornan plays the character made famous by Viggo Mortensen in the new film, starring alongside Ian McKellen, Kate Winslet, Elijah Wood, Anya Taylor-Joy, Lee Pace, and Leo Woodall.

The Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum will be released on December 17, 2027. For more, check out our guides on how to watch the Lord of the Rings movies in order and our breakdown of The Lord of the Rings timeline.

Anya Taylor-Joy has joined the upcoming Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum as an original character called Seren. She is a Sindar Elf of the Woodland Realm who is described as "a trusted and lethal agent of King Thranduil."

Lee Pace's Thranduil has already been confirmed to be returning, alongside Andy Serkis as Gollum, Ian McKellen as Gandalf and Elijah Wood as Frodo. Taylor-Joy joins newcomers Kate Winslet, who'll be Marigol, Jamie Dornan, who is playing Aragorn/Strider, and Leo Woodall, who has joined as Halvard.

Lord of the Rings fans have been reacting to the casting news, but it's fair to say the community has had a mixed reaction. While most agree that Taylor-Joy is a fantastic actor and also has a Elven look about her, many are concerned about new non-canon characters being brought into the story.

"Who? What is happening. Why do they do this. Make up characters. It didn’t work in The Hobbit. It doesn’t work in ROP," one wrote on Reddit. A second agreed, writing: "I absolutely adore Anya as an actress so this isn't directed at her as a person but I really wish they would stop making up shit and adding it to the story."

Another is concerned about the naming of Seren, adding that the "names of new characters announced for this film are definitely red flags". They explained: "Seren means ‘Star’ in Welsh. Welsh, and Finnish, were linguistic sources of inspiration for Tolkien when he developed Quenya and Sindarin (the languages of the Elves). Call me pedantic, but that does not make Welsh canon, nor does the name make etymological sense in the fiction. Nearly all names in Tolkien’s works have meaning, and with so many Tolkien scholars today, why not derive a Quenya or Sindarin name?"

Others have been more positive on the casting. Replying to the news on Twitter, one fan wrote: "Anya as an elf is perfect casting." Another wrote: "An incredible casting choice. Anya Taylor-Joy already has the presence of a First Age Elf." A third agreed, adding: "Anyone who is upset about this casting choice needs to reevaluate their life choices."

Taylor-Joy is also a huge Lord of the Rings fan, previously telling The Late Show with Stephen Colbert that it's her "goal in life" to look like an Elf.

The Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum will be released on December 17, 2027. In the meantime, return to Middle-earth with our guides on The Rings of Power season 3 and how to watch the Lord of the Rings movies in order.

It has been 23 years since Peter Jackson's Lord of the Rings trilogy concluded with Return of the King, but Elijah Wood says that returning to play Frodo Baggins in The Hunt for Gollum alongside other original cast members feels a lot like a family reunion, even if he doesn't have a central role this time around.

"I mean, it's sort of like getting the band back together a little bit with that film," says Wood to GamesRadar+. "A lot of the creative team who were part of Lord of the Rings are part of Hunt for Gollum. I'm just looking forward to seeing all those people again. It feels like a family reunion. My part to play is relatively small, but I'm just excited to go back and spend some time in New Zealand and see old friends."

Based on Tolkien's literary works, Wood brought Baggins to life in the first Lord of the Rings movie, The Fellowship of the Ring, in 2001. Three massive films follow Frodo's perilous journey to destroy the One Ring before Sauron gets his hands on it. However, The Hunt for Gollum will go back to where it all began, taking place 17 years after Frodo's uncle Bilbo's birthday party, and before Frodo's departure from the Shire.

Although the franchise does go over these events, explaining to the audience how Bilbo found the ring after the monster took his eye off of it, The Hunt for Gollum will focus on what happened after Gollum lost the One Ring, which drew him out of his cave in search of it. This prompts Gandalf to send Aragorn after him, setting in motion the hunt for Gollum. With this, it is understandable how Wood might only be in a handful of scenes, like his cameo in The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey.

Alongside Wood, Ian McKellen is returning as Gandalf, as well as Andy Serkis as Smeagol/Gollum. The Hobbit star Lee Pace is reprising his role as Thranduil. However, Strider has been recast and will be played by The Tourist star Jamie Dornan. Newcomers include Kate Winslet and Leo Woodall as new characters Marigol and Halvard. Serkis is directing from a script written by long-time Lord of the Rings collaborators Philippa Boyens and Fran Walsh. Peter Jackson is on board as a producer.

However, before Wood returns to Middle-earth, he will suit up as another character who likes to wear green. The star voices an astronaut known as 'Green' in new animated TV show Among Us, which shadow-dropped on Paramount Plus on June 5. Based on the highly popular online multiplayer game of the same name, Among Us follows crewmates travelling through space who must complete their allocated tasks to keep the ship running. But amongst them are shapeshifting alien impostors picking the team off one by one.

The Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum arrives in theaters on December 17, 2027. For more, check out our guide on how to watch all the Lord of the Rings movies in order, and keep up with upcoming movies heading your way.

While we wait for the new Lord of the Rings film to arrive, what better way is there to pass the time than pore over every detail of the Peter Jackson trilogy? However, as one viewer found on the latest rewatch, it can cause you to spot some slightly frustrating inconsistencies.

Redditor Significant-Owl7994 shared their confusion over one particular plot hole in The Return of the King. It all revolves around the scene when Frodo and Samwise end up in Shelob's lair on their journey to Mount Doom. The monster stabs Frodo, almost killing him. We don't see exactly where her stinger gets him, but it seems from the angle of the attack that it goes through his chest.

However, as the user points out, Frodo is wearing a Mithril shirt at this point, which should have been impenetrable. "A spear that would have killed a wild boar didn't break the armour, yet Shelob's stinger did...?" they wondered, asking the Lord of the Rings community how the monster was able to break through the mythical metal.

Several pointed out that in J.R.R. Tolkien's book, this encounter went a little differently to get around this, as Shelob stabs him near the neck, above the shirt. As one replied, it seems like it was a mistake in the Peter Jackson adaptation. "I LOVE the movies, but I feel this is a total oversight and I think fans are incredibly generous to suggest he was stung somewhere 'around' the vest when the angle clearly shows her stabbing his stomach," they wrote.

"I'd say it's one of those filming errors that just snuck past them. If I remember correctly in the book Shelob stings Frodo in the neck," another agreed.

How Did Shelob's Stinger Get Through Frodo's Mithril? from r/lotr

A third user does have a head-canon that could help explain this plot hole, but you'll just have to decide whether you believe it or not. "I always (to make the movie scene make more sense) went with the fact that Shelob is the daughter of Ungoliant and a direct descendant of the big dark evil from the outerverse," they commented. "Her stinger is a far more powerful weapon than a spear, since it's attached to what is a power beyond ancient evil."

There's also another theory that the Mithril may have been how Frodo survived the encounter. The size of Shelob's stinger should have likely done fatal damage so potentially if it was stopped slightly by the armored shirt, it may have been how he was able to wake up after. "Maybe the Mithril is HOW he survived? Like maybe it was just the tip, and only a small amount of venom got through without a real 'stab wound,'" a fourth user suggested.

The debate rages on among fans of the franchise, but it wouldn't be the only plot hole in the saga. Probably the most infamous of all is why Frodo couldn't just fly on a giant eagle to Mordor, which some even thought had a nod in the Prime Video prequel series The Rings of Power.

The Lord of the Rings returns to the big screen with the upcoming The Hunt for Gollum, which is due out on December 17, 2027. Meanwhile, The Rings of Power season 3 arrives on Prime Video on November 11, 2026.

Gandalf actor Ian McKellen will be donning his wizard's hat once more very soon in The Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum, and the legendary actor has joked about his comeback.

Speaking at a London Q&A for his new film The Christophers, attended by GamesRadar+, McKellen briefly spoke about his highly anticipated return in the context of a longer answer about the types of roles he is looking for at this stage in his career.

Speaking about a play he has lined up for "when I come back from Middle-earth," he explained: "I'm going back to do more Gandalf. Who would have thought there was more? The person who thought there was more was Andy Serkis, and he's going to be directing Gollum's early life."

As for the rest of his answer on whether there's a type of role he's prioritizing, McKellen started by reflecting: "No. It's an interesting question. It's always nice to play the baddie, you know. The devil has the best shoes. Only occasionally, you play a good man like Gandalf, but they don't come along very often. But am I looking for something in particular? No, I think I'm always looking for a script that will resonate beyond itself. It's not just a simple story, not just an Agatha Christie… something more complicated that will make an audience, as I like to when I'm in the cinema or in the theater for a play, lean forward, gasp, laugh, a day to think about, talk about. I think, when I do, at this point, [what] I'm looking is for something that nobody else has ever done."

He went on to talk about his recent appearance in a mixed-reality Simon Stevens play (An Ark) and a "lip-syncing" project about the painter L.S. Lowry (in BBC documentary LS Lowry: The Unheard Tapes), before talking about his Middle-earth return and his next play (which will be "trying to analyze what connection I've got with King Lear").

McKellen isn't the only Middle-earth actor returning for The Hunt for Gollum. Elijah Wood is also back as Frodo Baggins, while Lee Pace returns as Thranduil. Serkis both directs and reprises his role as Gollum. The rest of the cast includes Kate Winslet as Marigol, Leo Woodall as Halvard, and Jamie Dornan as Strider, AKA Aragorn, the role famously played by Viggo Mortensen.

"I really, really don't want to go into it right now because I do want to save that for further down the line," Serkis said recently of recasting Aragorn. "We're at a crunch stage now, we're just about to start shooting. We're not far off shooting. So, I'm going to save all discussion about casting, other than that, we are thrilled that Jamie's doing it. We're absolutely thrilled. And, by the way, so is Viggo."

The Hunt for Gollum arrives on December 17, 2027. In the meantime, check out our guide to all the upcoming movies from this year and beyond.

While Aragorn is set to feature in the upcoming Lord of the Rings movie The Hunt for Gollum, he won't be played by Viggo Mortensen.

Instead, Jamie Dornan will take over the role. According to director (and Gollum actor) Andy Serkis, though, Mortensen has given his approval to the recast.

"I really, really don't want to go into it right now because I do want to save that for further down the line," Serkis said on the Happy Sad Confused podcast. "We're at a crunch stage now, we're just about to start shooting. We're not far off shooting. So, I'm going to save all discussion about casting, other than that, we are thrilled that Jamie's doing it. We're absolutely thrilled. And, by the way, so is Viggo."

While Aragorn won't be played by Mortensen, a number of familiar faces are returning. Elijah Wood is back as Frodo, and Ian McKellen is back as Gandalf, while Lee Pace will return as Thranduil. Newcomers to the cast are Leo Woodall as Halvard and Kate Winslet as Marigol.

One actor who doesn't seem to be back, however, is Orlando Bloom as Legolas. "I have not heard a peep, actually. I don't know. I know it's focusing on Gollum, so anything's possible," Bloom said in 2025. "Listen, I'd hate to see anyone else play Legolas, you know what I mean? What are they going to do? Are they going to put somebody else in as Legolas? With AI they can do anything these days!"

The film is based on J.R.R. Tolkien's appendices and is set in between Bilbo Baggins' 111th birthday (as seen in The Fellowship of the Ring) and before Frodo sets off on his quest. In this time, Gandalf sends Aragorn to seek Gollum, concerned that Gollum could reveal information about the One Ring to Sauron.

The Hunt for Gollum arrives on December 17, 2027. In the meantime, check out our guide to all the upcoming movies from this year and beyond.

Warner Bros. has confirmed the official cast of upcoming prequel The Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum. Announced at CinemaCon and via a video that hit us right in the nostalgia, the line-up is packed with a fair few surprises, including the return of a fan-favorite character.

The casting announcement revealed that Jamie Dornan will be playing Aragorn following Viggo Mortensen's exit. He's joined by Leo Woodall as Halvard and Kate Winslet as Marigol. There had been some early reports that The White Lotus star Woodall may be playing Aragorn, but it's now been confirmed that Fifty Shades of Grey star Dornan will be playing Strider in the upcoming movie.

It was also confirmed again that director Andy Serkis is back as Gollum, as are Elijah Wood and Ian McKellen as Frodo and Gandalf. However, one of the biggest surprise additions to the cast list is Lee Pace, who will be reprising his role as Thranduil from The Hobbit movies. Pace's Elvenking is a fan-favorite character, and the news has already been met with a lot of excitement from fans.

Reacting to the Instagram announcement of the cast, Nerd of the Rings reacted with some clapping emojis to Pace's return as another fan commented, "LEE PACE ARE YOU FOR REAL I JUST SCREAMED." Meanwhile, a third wrote: "Lee Pace coming back just made me so happy," as a fourth added: "Omg omg omg @leeepfrog will be back as Thranduil, the best news ever."

Based on J.R.R. Tolkien's appendices, the story of The Hunt for Gollum takes place during The Fellowship of the Ring, 17 years after Bilbo Baggins' 111th birthday, but before Frodo Baggins leaves for Rivendell. It sees Gandalf send Aragorn on a quest to find Gollum amid concerns he will reveal information about the One Ring to Sauron.

The Hunt for Gollum is due to be released on December 17, 2027. For more from Middle-earth, check out our guide to the best Lord of the Rings movie moments and our round-up of all you need to know about The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power season 3.

Now, this is a surprise: a new Lord of the Rings movie is in the works, partly written by talk show host and comedian Stephen Colbert and his screenwriter son, Peter.

As part of Tolkien Reading Day, director Peter Jackson – who helmed the Lord of the Rings and Hobbit trilogies – hopped on social media to not only provide an update on Andy Serkis' The Hunt for Gollum, but also unveil the new chapter in Middle-earth.

Colbert then jumped on the call, outlining the pitch for his Lord of the Rings movie: a deep dive into six chapters of Tolkien's Fellowship of the Ring that were not adapted for the big screen: from the third chapter's Three is Company through to chapter eight's Fog on the Barrow Downs.

While it's unclear how closely it will follow the text, those chapters largely revolve around Frodo and the Fellowship being hunted by a Barrow-wight, with the group being saved by Tom Bombadil, the seemingly immortal trickster wizard who also appeared in The Rings of Power season 2 (played by Rory Kinnear).

"I thought, ‘Oh, wait, maybe that could be its own story that could fit into the larger story. Could we make something that was completely faithful to the books while also being completely faithful to the movies that you guys had already made?'" Colbert teased of the project, which he's also working on alongside series mainstay Philippa Boyens.

Per the movie's logline, it appears we're getting a glimpse of a post-Return of the King slice of Middle-earth. Tragically, that also means it takes place after Frodo's death.

It reads, "Fourteen years after the passing of Frodo, Sam, Merry and Pippin set out to retrace the first steps of their adventure. Meanwhile, Sam's daughter, Elanor, has discovered a long-buried secret and is determined to uncover why the War of the Ring was very nearly lost before it even began."

Colbert's curious mention of a "framing device" suggests to me that everything that picks up with the remnants of the Fellowship will be used to flashback to one of Frodo's most perilous steps on his long journey to Mount Doom – with a dash of Tom Bombadil thrown in for good measure.

First up, though, is The Hunt for Gollum, which sees the return of Andy Serkis' iconic motion-captured character. Ian McKellen and Elijah Wood are rumored to reprise their roles as Gandalf and Frodo respectively.

Jackson said of the release, set for December 17, 2027, "It’s looking amazing. The script is coming together really well and I think it's going to be a really good film."

For more, check out the latest on The Rings of Power season 3, plus all the new movie release dates you still have to look forward to.

The Hunt for Gollum has gained a new cast member, as Kate Winslet has joined the ranks of the Lord of the Rings movie's cast.

Deadline broke the news and says its sources indicate the role is the female lead, though whom exactly that refers to is a mystery for now. Interestingly, the report also says Winslet will star opposite Ian McKellen's Gandalf and Elijah Wood's Frodo Baggins, though neither cast member has been officially confirmed.

According to the report, Peter Jackson himself and Andy Serkis – who will return as Gollum and direct the film – "spent most of last year coaxing Winslet to appear in the film," and she will shoot in New Zealand from late May to October.

Wood has previously indicated that he doesn't want anyone else to play his iconic role while he's "alive and able."

"There is a good chance," he said of his possible return. "I'm not able to officially say anything until it's announced, but I will say I'm thrilled with the prospect of another film."

The movie will follow the, well, hunt for Gollum, and it's set in between The Hobbit and The Fellowship of the Ring. While other cast members are unclear for now, Orlando Bloom has said he hasn't been asked back.

"I have not heard a peep, actually. I don't know. I know it's focusing on Gollum, so anything's possible," said Bloom. "Listen, I'd hate to see anyone else play Legolas, you know what I mean? What are they going to do? Are they going to put somebody else in as Legolas? With AI they can do anything these days!"

The Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum arrives on December 17, 2027. In the meantime, check out our guide to all the most exciting upcoming movies of the year.

Eidos Montreal's cancelled Lord of the Rings game has resurfaced after images were posted to the portfolio of a former studio artist.

Since the release of Marvel's Guardians of the Galaxy in 2021, Eidos Montreal hasn't had the best time as a studio. Back in 2024, the rumoured Deus Ex revival from the studio was cancelled before it was even announced, and rumours of a cancelled Legacy of Kain reboot emerged last year. The only projects that have seen the light of day are Playground Games' upcoming Fable reboot and Obsidian Entertainment's Grounded 2, both of which Eidos Montreal worked on as a support studio.

And sadly, yet another cancelled Eidos Montreal game has emerged, with MP1ST reporting on the emergence of concept art for the game. The game in question would've been an isometric Lord of the Rings title, previously reported to feature card-based mechanics and a Telltale Games-inspired narrative approach.

The concept art shows off multiple scenarios showing the Umbar region of Middle-earth, and notably the Prancing Pony Inn, which is where Frodo and his band of hobbits go to meet Gandalf, but instead run into the mysterious Strider – later revealed to be Aragorn – during the events of The Lord of the Rings. The portfolio also included some work-in-progress 3D level designs, and a 3D map of Umbar both "before the fall" and "after the fall" suggesting the game would depict the fall of the stronghold, which was led by Aragorn almost 40 years before the War of the Ring and by extension the events of The Lord of the Rings.

25 years later, and I'm fully convinced there'll never be a greater adaptation than The Lord of the Rings trilogy.

The best kind of movies are the ones with a story so amazing that each rewatch feels like your first time seeing them. It's the films where you don't notice time flying away, as each scene perfectly paces into the next, and you're engulfed by the on-screen world and all the character journeys before you. Only a few films have ever reached this level of "movie magic" and, luckily for us, the best cinematic trilogy to do so, Peter Jackson's The Lord of the Rings trilogy, is now out in cinemas again.

Celebrating 25 years since the release of The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring, fans can now go to their local cineplex to tune into the extended editions of all three films. As someone who rewatches the extended editions every year, it's an experience I personally recommend to any movie lover. Even if you aren't a fantasy fan, the trilogy hasn't aged a day and is a masterclass in great adaptation that I'm becoming increasingly convinced will never be matched due to one reason: our modern obsession with convoluted franchises.

The right place at the right time

The 2020s have been characterised by many big-budget Hollywood affairs trying to replicate the Marvel effect rather than adapting new works. IPs are mined like Khazad-dûm, and films often tie into TV shows that you need to watch like extra homework, or go past the trilogy even when the story has run its course in an effort to keep the money flowing.

Compared to the 2000s, which saw both The Fellowship of the Ring and the first Harry Potter movie released in cinemas, the rights for novel adaptations are increasingly going to streaming services instead of film studios (queue the side-eye at the upcoming Harry Potter show), becoming series that are in constant danger of being canceled, and which also tend to be drawn-out affairs.

In 1954, JRR Tolkien published a fantasy epic that would go on to define a genre. His novel, The Lord of the Rings, described in painstaking detail a fantastic world called Middle-earth, where the most unlikely of heroes (a small Hobbit named Frodo Baggins) would journey to the fiery Mount Doom to destroy the dark Lord Sauron's ring of power. Frodo's journey in the books is a long one. Tolkien never shied away from lore or world-building, and even created his own language.

I'm forever thankful that The Lord of the Rings trilogy was made when it was, instead of today, because its source material is so vast and detailed that we'd likely be in Middle-earth Phase 12 by now if certain companies got their way. Instead, Jackson's trilogy is perfect. Opposed to stretching out Tolkien's story to make even more movies, he cut the work down, released extended cuts to add more context for those looking for it, and made necessary changes that didn't take away from the heart of what makes these stories so great: how even the smallest among us can take down an evil force that seems unstoppable.

The art of adapting Tolkien

There is a certain art to big-screen adaptations, and very rarely are you going to get one that isn't afraid to tweak the source material for the new medium. The Lord of the Rings trilogy does make substantial changes from the book, but does so in a way that will make any screenwriting professor and Tolkien fan happy.

For instance, Arwen's rescue of Frodo in The Fellowship didn't happen in the novel. In the book, Aragorn was never in exile, unlike in the trilogy. In fact, he was prepped and ready to take on his role against Sauron and for Gondor long before he met Frodo. There's also no Tom Bombadil in the movies, and the films even have Sam and Frodo splitting up for a time when Gollum gets between them during their journey to Mordor, which also never happened in the books. These are just a few of the changes made; however, most hardcore Tolkien fans agree that they aren't deal breakers either, and that's because, at the end of the day, all the alterations fit the medium of film perfectly.

Condensing an epic into three movies is a massive undertaking. A screenplay isn't a novel, and, as such, things that we love in a book sometimes just don't translate to the big screen. Similarly, you have to be brutal in the editor's room. Even if Tom Bombadil is your favourite character, let's be frank, his inclusion in the trilogy would have just pleased fans and caused pacing issues instead.

Changing Arwen's role in meeting Frodo gave her more of an identity in her romance with Aragorn, so viewers could invest in them both more easily. Sam and Frodo essentially breaking up over Gollum added dramatic tension and raised the stakes when Frodo ventured into Shelob's cave by himself, and Aragorn struggling to embrace his identity gave the character growth and a personal journey to root for.

In short, Jackson's changes didn't damage the story; they made it fit for purpose in its new medium. The director kept the essence of the novel, and his alterations to Tolkien's plot simply let viewers experience all the dramatic ups and downs that readers did back in the day in the space of just a few hours. It's a stunning feat that rightfully led to Oscar recognition, and one of the most passionate fan communities around.

Modern Middle-earth

Once the rights for The Lord of the Rings fell to Warner Bros., the franchise-creating efforts really kicked off. I have a soft spot for the first Hobbit movie in Jackson's second Tolkien trilogy, for the reason that it adapted the novel (which is much shorter than The Lord of the Rings and was originally written for children) quite well. However, by the third movie, the new films were a jumble of new characters, cameos, a romance that didn't work, and Tolkien's appendices scattered around the plot.

While I'm also dreadfully excited about The Hunt for Gollum and will be likely watching more than once when it releases in 2027, the fact that its adapting a very short period of time covered in the book, also makes me nervous that instead of working in harmony with the source material like the original trilogy did, we are going to see another cinematic case of putting quantity over the art of storytelling. I'm very hopeful that, since it's planned as a single movie instead of multiple, we'll have another Tolkien adaptation to add to the list of the best fantasy movies of all time (fingers crossed).

Tolkien took decades to write his book; he defined fantasy as we know it today, and the movies that honored that and weren't concerned with prolonging a franchise or setting one up also ended up being some of the best films to ever exist. The original Lord of the Rings trilogy still makes my heart race – it fills me with joy and wonder as I witness the beautiful New Zealand landscapes and thrilling battle sequences.

I may be wrong in my assertion that we'll never see anything like them again. However, right now I can confidently say that they are the greatest adaptations in cinematic history and have set the bar extremely high, especially during a time when we've seemingly forgotten to write with the screen in mind rather than our "greedy Hobbitses" pockets.

The Lord of the Rings 25th anniversary re-release is out now in theaters. For more on what to watch, check out the rest of our Big Screen Spotlight series. You can also head to our guide on The Lord the Rings timeline for more Middle-earth fan.

In celebration of The Lord of the Rings franchise's 25th birthday, a new Middle-earth-inspired popcorn bucket has been released.

AMC Theaters posted the first look at the bucket on Twitter. The tin includes a beautiful illustration of the Middle-earth map, which LOTR fans will know is the very item that guides the Fellowship across the continent as they make their way from the Shire to Mordor. The set also comes with magnets in the shape of the One Ring, Eye of Sauron, the Leaf of Lorien, and the pendant of Arwen's necklace. The popcorn bucket is available for purchase now. Check out the set below.

Fans can eat their popcorn out of the beautiful new bucket as The Lord of the Rings extended edition re-release makes its way to movie theaters. In the US, The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring is set to hit screens starting from January 16, followed by The Two Towers on January 17, and finally The Return of the King on January 18. In the UK, the trilogy will show in multiple cinema chains from January 15 onwards.

What makes this re-release even more special is that it commemorates 25 years since The Fellowship of the Ring hit screens, kick-starting the whole franchise. What's more, screenings will include exclusive fan introductions from director Peter Jackson ahead of each movie. The event has already grossed over $5 million in domestic presales, with roughly 407,000 tickets sold so far in the US, as per Variety.

The re-release is not the only thing that LOTR fans have to look forward to, as a brand new Lord of the Rings movie is currently in development. Seeing Smeagol star Andy Serkis sit in the director's chair while also reprising his role as the fallen hobbit, The Hunt for Gollum is set release on December 17, 2027. The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power season 3 is also on the way, with the Prime Video series currently in the post-production phase.

Tickets for The Lord of the Rings re-release are available to purchase on Fathom now. For more, check out our guide on how to watch all the Lord of the Rings movies in order, and keep up with upcoming movies heading your way.

Bad news Lord of the Rings fans, it looks like there won't be any more extended versions of the original trilogy on the way, as director Peter Jackson states there is simply not enough footage to make an 'extended-extended edition'.

"Are there great scenes that we never used? The answer is no," said Jackson in an interview with Empire. "There are bits and pieces, I guess. But if you did an extended-extended cut, or whatever it will get called, it would be disappointing. It would be the extended cut with a few extra seconds of something here and there; it wouldn’t be worthwhile doing."

The Lord of the Rings trilogy, which consists of The Fellowship of the Ring, The Two Towers, and The Return of the King, totals over nine hours combined, and the extended versions add another 2 and a half hours on top of that already whopping total, taking fans over 11.5 hours to get through. Phew.

However, over the years, there have been rumblings of a ‘Mithril Cut’ containing a look at Aragorn and Arwen during their courtship. But co-writer Philippa Boyens said that even though there is some footage of that moment in Lothlórien, there's not enough to warrant another cut. But Jackson hopes to release a making of The Lord of the Rings documentary one day, using never-before-seen alternative takes and bloopers. "But to this day, I haven’t persuaded [the studio], because obviously it’s a big undertaking," added the filmmaker.

Alas, fans have a lot to look forward to, as even though Jackson's trilogy may be done and dusted, a new franchise addition is on the way, in addition to The Rings of Power season 3. Seeing Andy Serkis both take the directing reins and reprise his role as Smeagol, the upcoming movie The Hunt for Gollum is set before the events of The Hobbit films and The Fellowship of the Ring, when Gollum first got his hands on the One Ring. Ian McKellen is also on board to return as Gandalf.

The Hunt for Gollum will release on December 17, 2027. For more, check out our guide on how to watch all the Lord of the Rings movies in order, and keep up with new movies heading your way.

Aragon actor Viggo Mortensen has revealed his surprise pick for his favorite Lord of the Rings trilogy scene – mostly because it has "no effects" and "no imaginary monsters."

So, was it Aragorn's dramatic (and instantly iconic) opening of the doors at Helm's Deep? His coronation in Return of the King? Apparently not.

Speaking to Empire on the 25th anniversary of The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring's release, Mortensen says the moment of Boromir's death – one of Sean Bean's most iconic on-screen demises – "maybe" ranks above all else.

"That scene, I have to say, no offence to anybody else or any other part of the trilogy, but that’s maybe my favorite scene. It’s such a beautiful scene," Mortensen said.

"And there are no effects, there are no imaginary monsters. It’s just two people who have a connection in terms of their ethnicity -- you know, Gondor and all that -- but they’ve been at odds. They’ve been kinda butting heads until then. And then there’s just such a strong connection."

The moment in question, particularly the Extended Edition version, stands out as one of the trilogy's high emotional watermarks, with Boromir swearing fealty to his "king" as he lay dying – despite the previous tensions between the pair. He is ultimately slain by a volley of arrows while defending Merry and Pippin from a Uruk-hai assault.

We're returning to Middle-earth in 2027 for The Hunt for Gollum, though there's been no word yet on if Viggo Mortensen will return in any capacity, despite the focus on Aragorn's attempts to capture Gollum. The actor has previously been open to a return, however.

"I like playing that character. I learned a lot playing the character. I enjoyed it a lot. I would only do it if I was right for it in terms of, you know, the age I am now and so forth. I would only do it if I was right for the character. It would be silly to do it otherwise," Mortensen told GQ UK back in 2024.

The Hunt for Gollum hits cinemas on December 17, 2027.

For more, check out our guide to movie release dates and all the latest on The Rings of Power season 3.

Frodo actor Elijah Wood has revealed that there might be more movies in the Lord of the Rings universe after The Hunt for Gollum.

The new movie will be set before the main action of The Fellowship of the Ring and, if the film follows J.R.R. Tolkien's source material, it will revolve around Gandalf and Aragorn's attempts to track down Gollum after Bilbo handed the One Ring over to Frodo. At the moment, it's unclear whether Wood will return, though Gandalf actor Ian McKellen has teased that Gandalf and Frodo will be in the movie.

"I can neither confirm nor deny. Listen, a wizard is to be trusted," Wood said at a Fan Expo New Orleans panel moderated by ScreenRant of his potential involvement. "Aside from any of that, I'm not really allowed to confirm. I'm really excited about the film. I think it really is a creative 'getting the band back together.' A lot of the creative heads of department are back and in that space again. Philippa [Boyens] I think, is co-writing it and producing it. It's very much that core original group getting back together to tell this story that will feel like a really fun exploration of this character that we all love so much. And I'm just really excited.

"I'm excited for Andy [Serkis] to direct it," he continued. "It feels so unbelievably appropriate that he directs a film about his character that he has really made his own. I'm thrilled. It'll be great. And I'm excited to see... I know their intention is to make other films in this universe. And that's exciting, interesting to see where that goes, but very exciting."

No further Lord of the Rings films have been announced just yet, though The Rings of Power season 3 is on the way. That show is totally separate from the movies, however, and is set many, many years earlier, during the Second Age of the Lord of the Rings timeline.

The Hunt for Gollum arrives on December 17, 2027. In the meantime, fill out your watchlist with our guide to all the most exciting upcoming movies of the year.

Elijah Wood isn't confirmed to star in Lord of the Rings spin-off Hunt for Gollum just yet, but he's read the script and has nothing but praise.

"I know a great deal about it. I've read it. It's really good," Wood said during a panel appearance at DesertCon in Mexico (via The Direct).

The good vibes from the Frodo actor even extend to those returning behind the scenes. Currently, Andy Serkis is on board to both star and direct, while Peter Jackson will produce the project. Series veterans Fran Walsh and Philippa Boyens (who helped pen The Lord of the Rings and Hobbit trilogies) are also writing the script.

"There are some wonderful people involved. The thing that is so exciting is that it is really getting the creative band back together," Wood said.

"The brain trust behind Lord of the Rings, Fran, Peter, Philippa, they are heavily involved. And then, the same production designers. It is going to be shot in New Zealand. So, it is going to carry with it such continuity with so many people who are a part of Lord of the Rings, and I am really excited about that."

Wood added, "It feels like getting that old machine up and running again with all of the right people."

While it's to be expected that most of the old guard will return to Middle-earth for a movie that bridges the gap between Lord of the Rings films to cover (you guessed it) the hunt for Gollum, there has been no official confirmation of any cast signing on alongside Serkis.

Legolas actor Orlando Bloom hasn't heard anything, though Viggo Mortensen is open to returning, and, as of last year, Sir Ian McKellen was waiting for a script before making a decision on taking part.

The Hunt for Gollum hits cinemas on December 17, 2027. For more, check out our guide to upcoming movies.

Despite not being involved in the upcoming Lord of the Rings movie, The Hunt for Gollum, Legolas star Orlando Bloom has made it clear that he doesn't want to see anyone else play the Sindar Elf.

"I have not heard a peep, actually. I don't know. I know it's focusing on Gollum, so anything's possible," said Bloom on Today. "Listen, I'd hate to see anyone else play Legolas, you know what I mean? What are they going to do? Are they going to put somebody else in as Legolas? With AI they can do anything these days!"

Bloom played the platinum-haired elf for over two decades, starting with Peter Jackson's 00's trilogy, The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring, The Two Towers, and The Return of the King. The star then picked up his bow and arrow again in 2013 and 2014, for The Hobbit spin-off movies The Desolation of Smaug and The Battle of the Five Armies. "It's such an amazing part. I'm so grateful to have been a part of those movies," said the star.

It would make sense for Legalos to appear in The Hunt for Gollum, as the film is set between the events of The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings. However, we don't think we want to see anyone else take on the role.

The movie is set to follow a string of characters as they hunt for Andy Serkis' ring-bearing Smeagol. Some of these events are briefly covered in Fellowship of the Ring, which ended with Bilbo Baggins taking the ring from Gollum's cave. In another scene, we see Sauron's forces torture Gollum in Mordor in search of the ring's location.

However, one original star who is set to return is Ian McKellen. At London's For the Love of Fantasy convention, the Gandalf actor confirmed that his grey wizard will appear in the film alongside Frodo Baggins star Elijah Wood.

The Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum is set for release on December 17, 2027. For more, check out our guide on how to watch The Lord of the Rings movies in order, and keep up with upcoming movies heading your way.

Big news for fans of the Middle-earth – according to Ian McKellen, Gandalf and Frodo are returning for the upcoming The Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum. The legendary actor dropped the unexpected news over the weekend, and now we can't wait to see these iconic characters returning on the big screen over a decade after The Hobbit trilogy.

At the For the Love of Fantasy fan event in London yesterday, McKellen reunited with former co-stars Elijah Wood, Sean Astin, Dominic Monaghan, Billy Boyd, and John Rhys-Davies, and teased the new film directed by Andy Serkis.

"I hear there's going to be another movie based in Middle-earth, and it's going to start filming in May. It's going to be directed by Gollum, and it's all about Gollum," he started (via Tik Tok), warming up the audience for the huge announcement he was about to drop.

"I'll tell you two secrets about the casting: there's a character in the movie called Frodo, and there's a character in the movie called Gandalf. Apart from that, my lips are sealed!" he revealed.

Although we would never dare to doubt Sir Ian McKellen's words, Warner Bros has yet to confirm this announcement. Also, the actor said the characters are returning, but didn't specify if Elijah Wood and he would be reprising their roles – even if, of course, we expect and want them to.

For now, the only official cast member is Serkis, who is reprising his role as Gollum. Other Lord of the Rings actors like Viggo Mortensen would also be open to a comeback, but we'll have to wait to see if they are called back for the new film.

Little is known about The Hunt for Gollum so far, other than it follows Smeagol in the gaps between Frodo leaving The Shire and the Fellowship arriving at the Mines of Moria.

Lord of the Rings director Peter Jackson, who is producing the new movie, teased to Deadline: "We really want to explore his backstory and delve into those parts of his journey we didn’t have time to cover in the earlier films. It’s too soon to know who will cross his path, but suffice to say we will take our lead from Professor Tolkien."

The Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum is set for release on December 17, 2027, with more Lord of the Rings films planned. For more, check out our guide to all upcoming movies and movie release dates.

Peter Jackson has already done more work than most in the past 25 years. The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit trilogies would take a lot out of anyone, granted, so you can forgive the director for reining it in slightly in the decade-or-so since The Battle of the Five Armies hit our screens.

That being said, Jackson is keen to mention he's still very much active – and is currently working on multiple screenplays.

"I’m certainly not retired," Jackson confirmed during an interview with Screen Rant. "We are currently working on three different screenplays. I’m at the moment writing three different scripts."

While the identity of those films are a mystery, we do know that Jackson is part of the producing team for upcoming Lord of the Rings movie The Hunt for Gollum, while he's been open about once again dabbling in documentaries after his work on the acclaimed three-part series The Beatles: Get Back, which charted the Fab Four's seminal album Let it Be.

On his future plans, Jackson said, “We are producing and have been writing The Hunt for Gollum, which Andy Serkis is going to direct next year. I’ve enjoyed working on documentaries, whether they show I’ve grown old or not, and obviously the [The Beatles: Get Back] project. I’ve enjoyed doing various things with The Beatles, which is great, and that’ll probably carry on."

Surprisingly, the work where Jackson is at his most effusive is his partnership with Colossal Biosciences, a self-described "de-extinction company" that probably hasn't binged the Jurassic Park series just yet.

"To me, de-extincting the Moa would be just as exciting, if not more exciting, than any film I could possibly make," Jackson gushed. "I’ve made a lot of movies, but to see the Giant Moa brought back would be a level of excitement that I think would supersede anything at this point in time."

The Hunt for Gollum is set for December 17, 2027 and will follow more of the character's journey on the fringes of the original trilogy.

Jackson previously teased to Deadline, "We really want to explore his backstory and delve into those parts of his journey we didn’t have time to cover in the earlier films. It’s too soon to know who will cross his path, but suffice to say we will take our lead from Professor Tolkien."

The Beatles also have further cinematic exploits ahead of them. A four-part biopic event, starring Paul Mescal as Paul McCartney, Harris Dickinson as John Lennon, Barry Keoghan as Ringo Starr, and Joseph Quinn as George Harrison, is being directed by Sam Mendes and will release in 2028.

For more, check out the upcoming movies heading your way later this year.

The Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum is officially releasing in 2027.

As reported by Variety, the next journey to Middle-earth – both starring and directed by Gollum actor Andy Serkis – will drop on December 17, 2027. That mirrors both Peter Jackson's Lord of the Rings and Hobbit trilogies, which both released in the holiday season.

Little is known about Hunt for Gollum so far, other than it filling in the off-screen, Smeagol-centric gaps between Frodo setting off after Bilbo's party at the outset of The Fellowship of the Ring and the Fellowship then arriving at the Mines of Moria.

"It’s a specific chunk of incredible untold story, told through the perspective of this incredible creature," Lord of the Rings writer Philippa Boyens previously told Empire.

Legacy Lord of the Rings actors have also spoken candidly about potentially returning for The Hunt for Gollum, with Gandalf's Sir Ian McKellen saying he would "love" to go back – but needed to see a script first.

"I would love to go back. I would love to go back to New Zealand, number one. I also don't like the idea of anyone else playing [Gandalf]," McKellen said during an appearance on This Morning.

Similarly, Aragon actor Viggo Mortensen would also be open to a comeback – but only if it was right for his character.

"I would only do it if I was right for it in terms of, you know, the age I am now and so forth. I would only do it if I was right for the character. It would be silly to do it otherwise," Mortensen told GQ UK.

Hinting at what's to come upon the initial announcement, Peter Jackson – who is producing The Hunt for Gollum – teased to Deadline: "We really want to explore his backstory and delve into those parts of his journey we didn’t have time to cover in the earlier films. It’s too soon to know who will cross his path, but suffice to say we will take our lead from Professor Tolkien."

The Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum is set for release on December 17, 2027, with more Lord of the Rings films planned.

For more, check out our guide to movie release dates.

The Hunt for Gollum is still 18 months away, but news from Middle-earth is arriving faster than the Eagle flies, as the new Lord of the Rings movie inches closer and closer to filming.

After that recent cast reveal, where we learned that Fifty Shades of Grey star Jamie Dornan is taking over from Viggo Mortensen as Aragorn, it was announced that Furiosa and Dune star Anya Taylor-Joy is joining the cast as a movie-original character. And you can bet Lord of the Rings fans have strong feelings about it. We also have some exclusive insights from Elijah Wood himself about returning as Frodo.

For all that and more, we've got your complete guide to The Hunt for Gollum right here, including where it falls on the Lord of the Rings timeline and plot details. It's time to head back to Middle-earth for one of the most exciting upcoming movies.

The Hunt for Gollum release date

The Hunt for Gollum's release date has been revealed as December 17, 2027. This news was announced by Warner Bros on May 8, 2025, and we couldn't be more excited. Initially, the film was planned for a December 2026 release window. However, it was revealed during the Fan Expo Vancouver 2025 event (via The Direct) that the movie had been pushed back to 2027.

Although the movie has yet to start filming, star Elijah Wood confirmed to us that he'll be heading to New Zealand to shoot the movie, even if he has a relatively small part to play.

"I mean, it's sort of like getting the band back together a little bit with that film," Wood told GamesRadar+. "A lot of the creative team who were part of Lord of the Rings are part of Hunt for Gollum. I'm just looking forward to seeing all those people again. It feels like a family reunion. My part to play is relatively small, but I'm just excited to go back and spend some time in New Zealand and see old friends."

Expect filming to get underway soon to hit that late 2027 release date. Hopefully, the additional time in development will result in one of the best fantasy movies of the year!

It's got stiff competition on that day, however, as both Avengers: Secret Wars and The Housemaid's Secret are scheduled to release on the same day. Who's going to blink first?

What is The Hunt for Gollum plot?

While we don't know how the Hunt for Gollum will expand on Tolkien's work (a terrifying thought), we do know that it's based on the appendices of Tolkien's novel. It will take place primarily 17 years after Bilbo's birthday, when he handed over the One Ring to Frodo. Although Peter Jackson's films didn't really show off the lengthy timeline before Frodo left for Rivendell, the events of the movie take place before our main hobbits even leave the Shire.

Basically, worried about the nefarious nature of Frodo's "magic ring," Gandalf is concerned that Gollum would be captured and subsequently reveal information about what he suspects is the One Ring to Sauron's dark forces. In order to try and get to Gollum before Sauron, Gandalf reaches out to Aragorn and asks him to make use of his ranger skills to track the wretched creature down before it's too late.

This results in Aragorn and Gandalf teaming up periodically to search for Gollum together (often resulting in cold trails). Unfortunately, if you've seen or read The Lord of the Rings, you know that Gollum ventured into Mordor and was captured. Gandalf went to dive into researching the One Ring some more to confirm his suspicions, while Aragorn continued the hunt for Gollum, and Gollum continued to be tortured by Sauron in the meantime.

Eventually, Sauron released Gollum after getting all he could out of him, and poor Gollum got himself captured by Aragorn shortly after his newfound freedom. The pair travels for around 50 days, avoiding the enemy when they can, as Aragorn ventures to a safe place to imprison Gollum for interrogation later. Gandalf does get to question Gollum, where he gets further confirmation that Frodo's ring is none other than the One Ring belonging to Sauron.

This led to a sense of urgency and fully kicked off the action that we see in Fellowship as Gandalf returned to the Shire to inform Frodo on his next steps, the Ringwraiths entered the Shire, and a bunch of Orcs allowed Gollum to escape his prison.

There is a lot to go through in terms of the upcoming movie's plot here, but a lot of it involves time skips and simple travel without much confrontation. So we expect the Hunt for Gollum movie to make some changes. There was a fan-made Hunt for Gollum movie that was released back in 2009. This film featured an original story, though, using Tolkien's work as a jumping-off point. So it'll be interesting to see if Warner Bros takes a similar route here.

However, don't expect The Hunt for Gollum to completely follow Peter Jackson's trilogy, as director and star Andy Serkis said to Empire, "We have a very specific task ahead of us. A return to Middle-earth, that satisfies the passion and the love that generations of Lord Of The Rings fans have for these stories, whilst also presenting something completely fresh and new for first-timers to Middle-earth."

In terms of the script, fans can rest easy that the pen is in the capable hands of Fran Walsh and Philippa Boyens. At DesertCon in Mexico (via The Direct), Froddo star Elijah Wood confirmed he knows "a great deal" about the script, and that "it's really good." Walsh and Boyens notably helped pen both The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit trilogies.

"The brain trust behind Lord of the Rings, Fran, Peter, Philippa, they are heavily involved," said Wood. "It feels like getting that old machine up and running again with all of the right people."

Then later, in an interview with Empire, writer Boyens described the installment as an "adventure story with a really strong psychological, interior story that’s going on as well."

Where does The Hunt for Gollum fit in the Lord of the Rings timeline?

The Hunt for Gollum technically starts as far back as TA 2944, only a few years after Bilbo's quest in The Hobbit, where Gandalf wished to know how Gollum got the ring in the first place. The Hunt picks up again in TA 3001 after Bilbo's 111th birthday party, where Gandalf's suspicions about the ring heat up to a fever pitch. The Hunt for Gollum then concludes in TA 3018. This is also the year when Frodo and his friends start their journey to Rivendell.

Currently, it's unclear what timeline the upcoming movie will present. The main action of The Hunt for Gollum spans over 17 years. So we are curious to see how Jackson and his team plan to adapt Tolkien's work to fit into a film. Stay tuned for updates!

The Hunt for Gollum cast

The full cast of The Hunt for Gollum was confirmed at 2026's CinemaCon. This features several returning cast members, a major recasting, and some newcomers as well. Read on for the full details of who will be starring in the movie.

• Andy Serkis – Gollum/Sméagol
• Jamie Dornan – Strider/Aragorn
• Sir Ian McKellen – Gandalf
• Elijah Wood – Frodo Baggins
• Lee Pace – Thranduil
• Kate Winslet – Marigol
• Leo Woodall – Halvard
• Anya Taylor-Joy – Seren

The news of Anya Taylor-Joy's inclusion was announced a little later, in June 2026. She'll be playing Seren, a Sindar Elf of the Woodland Realm who is described as "a trusted and lethal agent of King Thranduil." The lifelong Lord of the Rings fan has made no secret of her desire to play a Middle-earth elf, but fans are divided on yet another non-canon character being added to the movie.

It is worth noting, too, that this may not be everyone involved in the upcoming film. Warner Bros. may be keeping some surprises up its sleeve, and more names may be on the way. For his part, Orlando Bloom has said he hasn't heard anything, but he wouldn't want to see anyone else play the part.

"I have not heard a peep, actually. I don't know. I know it's focusing on Gollum, so anything's possible," Bloom said on Today. "Listen, I'd hate to see anyone else play Legolas, you know what I mean? What are they going to do? Are they going to put somebody else in as Legolas? With AI they can do anything these days!" Watch this space.

And, while Viggo Mortensen may not be returning as Aragorn, he's given his seal of approval for his replacement. "We are thrilled that Jamie's doing it. We're absolutely thrilled. And, by the way, so is Viggo," Serkis said.

Is there a The Hunt for Gollum trailer?

Currently, there is no trailer for the Hunt for Gollum. However, since we now have a release date, we'll likely see a teaser soon. Our money is that the first trailer will drop during San Diego Comic-Con in July this year.

While we wait for the trailer, you can watch the 2009 fan-made movie, The Hunt For Gollum, now on YouTube. Or if you want to dive into a Middle-earth refresher, you can also read our guide on how to watch all the Lord of the Rings movies in order as well.

For more Tolkien fun, check out our list of the best Lord of the Rings games to play today.

24 years after it premiered, Lord of the Rings fans are still spotting incredible background details in The Fellowship of the Ring.

"The details in this trilogy never cease to amaze me: there's a quarry next to Isildur statue in the Argonath!" said one fan on Reddit, accompanied by a picture of the quarry besides the statue.

lotr from r/lotr/comments/1ij71dr/the_details_in_this_trilogy_never_cease_to_amaze

"Yes, and those parts of the statues that are above the height of the cliff-face were visibly made with bricks," points out someone else.

"Just shows the amount of thought, love, and imagination that so many people put into these films. I hope we get to see their like again some day" says another fan.

"Wēta Workshops world building is unmatched," says someone else.

"The concept behind them is that they're carved out of the cliff faces of the river, but we theorized that probably there wasn't the necessary rock to be able to carve the whole figure," explained Richard Taylor, Weta Workshop Creative Supervisor, in a behind the scenes featurette for the movie.

"So what we're saying is that they were able to carve to about this level [below the arm], but then had to construct this massive quarry to mine the rock, lifting with massive gantries and lifting equipment, up onto the upper surfaces of these huge, 300 foot tall sculptures, to place and place these huge granite blocks into which they could continue to carve and create the final look of the characters," he continued.

You can return to Middle-earth with The Rings of Power season 3, which will be headed to Prime Video sometime soon – though there's no release window just yet.

In the meantime, check out our guide to the best shows on Prime Video to fill out your watchlist.

After hitting theaters in December, new anime movie The Lord of the Rings: The War of Rohirrim is making its way to streaming, joining the rest of the franchise on HBO streaming service Max.

The news was confirmed in Max’s most recent promotional video announcing its February 2025 programming slate. Although The War of Rohirrirm is not listed on Warner Bros. Discovery’s 'What's new on Max' list, the movie is featured towards the end of the video. An exact date is yet to be revealed. Check out the video below.

The War of Rohirrim will fit quite nicely in Max’s streaming catalog, as the service already hosts Peter Jackson’s trilogy, as well as the prequel The Hobbit movies, and the 1978 animated Lord of the Rings film by Ralph Bakshi. However, the live-action The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power series can only be streamed on Amazon Prime Video.

Based on the iconic novels by J. R. R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim is set 183 years before the events of Jackson’s trilogy and follows Helm Hammerhand's daughter Héra as she leads a resistance against a deadly enemy. The movie stars Brian Cox and Gaia Wise and is directed by Kenji Kamiyama.

The War of Rohirrim will hit Max in February alongside other exciting titles including The White Lotus season 3, Waitress: The Musical, Elevation, and A24’s We Live in Time. A UK streaming date for the LOTR anime movie is yet to be revealed.

Before you stream The War of Rohirrim, make sure to read our The Lord of the Rings: The War of Rohirrim review first. For more, see our list of the best fantasy movies, or keep up with upcoming movies heading your way.

The Lord of the Rings director Peter Jackson has revealed his favorite movie in the trilogy – although he hasn't rewatched any of them since he made them.

"I can’t watch my own films. I mean, one day… I sort of enjoy it more as more time goes by, so one day I’ll watch them again," he told Letterboxd. But that doesn't mean he doesn't have a favorite. "The Two Towers, I think. But if I see them again I might have a totally different one."

The Return of the King, the final installment in the original trilogy, is the most common answer to that question, so Jackson is somewhat bucking the trend with The Two Towers. The second movie, released in 2002, continues the story of The Fellowship of the Ring as Frodo, Sam, and Gollum make their way towards Mordor, Merry and Pippin help plan an attack on Saruman's fortress at Isengard, and Aragorn and co. are reunited with Gandalf.

The latest big-screen installment in the franchise, which saw Jackson on board as an executive producer, was The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim, which hit theaters in December 2024. Directed by Kenji Kamiyama, the anime movie follows the king of Rohan and his family as they defend their kingdom against a Dunlending army and features an English-language voice cast including Brian Cox, Luke Pasqualino, and Miranda Otto.

We're next set to return to Middle-earth with Amazon's The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power season 3, which is due to begin filming later this year but doesn't have a release date yet. While we wait, check out our guide to the other best shows on Amazon Prime Video to add to your watchlist.

New Lord of the Rings anime movie looks to be joining The Joker 2 in fastest theatrical run of 2024, as the film heads to digital just two weeks after it hit theaters.

The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim, which opened on December 13, will be available on participating digital platforms including Amazon Prime Video on December 27 (H/T Deadline), just 14 days after it hit the big screen.

However, it is important to note that just because the movie is heading to digital, doesn't mean it will stop playing at movie theatres completely. Similarly, Red One hit Prime Video this month, but continues to show theatrically.

Set 183 years before the events of Peter Jackson’s Lord of the Rings trilogy, The War of Rohirrim follows Héra, the daughter of the King of Rohan Helm Hammerhand, as she attempts to save her kingdom from the dark Dunlending lord. The film is directed by Kenji Kamiyama and stars voice actors Gaia Wise, Brian Cox, and The Lord of The Rings’ Miranda Otto.

The anime flick has so far stirred up $15.3 million at the worldwide box office, compared to the film’s estimated budget of $30 million. That sum seems pretty small when compared the $6 billion raised by the six Lord of the Rings live action movie series, starting with The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring and ending with The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies.

However, more live action adventure awaits as two new Lord of the Rings movies are on the way from Warner Brothers. The first, titled The Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum, welcomes back Smeagol star Andy Serkis who will both lead and direct the movie, while Fran Walsh and Philippa Boyens pen the script. The Gollum flick is estimated to release in 2026.

As for The War of Rohirrim, the good news is that the digital version includes a bunch of special content; Return to Helm’s Deep: History Becomes Legend, Middle-earth and Anime: A Marriage of Creativity, and Héra: A New Hero for Middle-earth.

For more, see our The Lord of the Rings: The War of Rohirrim review, or keep up with upcoming movies.

Ahead of the release of The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim, star Brian Cox hadn't dived into author J.R.R. Tolkien's books.

The Succession actor lends his voice to Helm Hammerhead, a former King of Rohan in the anime prequel that is set 183 years prior to the events of Peter Jackson's The Lord of the Rings.

Drawn from the appendices of Tolkien's books, the film sees Wulf (Luke Pasqualino) take vengeance on the line of Rohan after the princess Héra refuses his hand in marriage, with King Helm then killing his father in one swift punch.

In a recent interview with GamesRadar+, Cox admitted that he had been somewhat "avoiding" Tolkien even though he was once "up for" a role in the live-action trilogy back in the early 2000s.

"Somehow I've avoided or been avoiding it," Cox said about The Lord of the Rings and Tolkien's extensive work. "I don't know, I think every other British actor I know is in Lord of the Rings, but that's nothing unusual for me. I think it happened in one other thing I did as well. I think it's my background, probably."

"I think there was one role that I was up for," he reminiscences about the original trilogy, "but I can't remember what it was."

After finishing work on this movie, Cox has "of course" read all the books and The Hobbit, as well as dived into Jackson's films. Yet, it was appealing to him to come into the project with fresh eyes, rather than know the weight of Helm's legacy in Middle-earth from the beginning.

"Sometimes it helps just not to know the legacy," he says. "So, you come out with a fresh vision. You come at it from your point of view rather than some perceived point of view and I think there's an advantage in that."

Now that he’s familiar with Tolkien, Cox would be keen to return to The Lord of the Rings either for another animated or live-action project. "Yeah, if the part is good," he says about the possibility of a live action return adding "and if I’m fit enough!"

"[Ian] McKellen is an old pal of mine. He found it great. He loved it. He's a huge, huge fan of those films [The Lord of the Rings], but he did find it physically demanding."

The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim arrives in theaters worldwide on December 13. For more, check out our The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim review, as well as how to watch The Lord of the Rings movies and shows in order.

It's no small feat joining the cast of The Lord of the Rings, especially when you're a major fan of the franchise like Gaia Wise.

The actress is at the forefront of the latest anime feature, The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim, inspired by J.R.R. Tolkien's appendices about the history of Middle-earth.

Set 183 years before the events of The Lord of the Rings, the film follows the previously unnamed daughter of a legendary King of Rohan, Helm Hammerhead (voiced by Brian Cox).

Héra (Wise) declines her childhood friend Wulf's (Luke Pasqualino) hand in marriage, before her hot-headed father gets into a fight with his dad, the leader of the Dunlendings, killing him in one swift punch. Consumed by revenge, Wulf (Luke Pasqualino) sets out to destroy the line of Rohan and claim the crown for himself.

Though this is a new anime story, there are plenty of nods to the live-action films. And they are so exciting, Wise admits that she "squealed" when she read the script, spotting the final Easter egg at the end of the film (which we won't spoil here of course).

In an interview with GamesRadar+, Wise says: "The Easter eggs were mad! I remember when I read some bits and I was like, 'I recognize that, I get to say it or I get to act it' It was insanely exciting. Then when I read the end of the film, I audibly squealed!" she teased, "When I saw it, I went like that (gasps)."

Her co-star Laurence Ubong-Williams, who plays her cousin Fréaláf in the film, says they are "forever at the disposal" of the franchise for future live-action spin-offs or anime sequels.

When asked if she'd return for another outing, Wise says it would "make me the happiest" and added: "Is the Pope Catholic? Yeah! There's so many directions that a sequel could go in following so many different paths that I think it would be silly not to! If we were given the opportunity and allowed, then I can't think of anything in a professional capacity that would make me any happier."

Wise was also thrilled to see that Héra’s relationship with Olwynn (Lorraine Ashbourne) was an integral part of the script, after the lack of female interaction in The Lord of the Rings trilogy ("It does not pass the Bechdel test!").

"It made me really happy that we're finally telling the stories of especially the Shield Maidens, because they float around in the trilogy, but they are so important to the lore," she adds.

"It also made me excited because there will hopefully be a generation of young girls who get to see this film and feel like they are seen and heard and empowered by it."

The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim arrives in theaters worldwide on December 13. For more, check out our The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim review, as well as how to watch The Lord of the Rings movies and shows in order.

Since The Lord of the Rings trilogy concluded in 2003, there's been a live-action adaptation of J.R.R. Tolkien's prequel The Hobbit and an original spin-off series, The Rings of Power.

Now, after a decade away from the big screen, Middle-earth has returned to theaters with the anime epic The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim.

Directed by Kenji Kamiyama, the film is inspired by a brief story in Tolkien's appendices about the former King of Rohan, Helm Hammerhand, and his two sons and unnamed daughter, who becomes Héra in the film.

Despite being set 183 years before the events of The Lord of the Rings, the animated feature features more than one link to the live-action films as director Peter Jackson and Philippa Boyens, who worked on all six films, both return as producers.

In a new interview with GamesRadar+, Boyens addressed the "rumoured rivalry" between the Amazon Prime Video series and the creative team behind the original live-action films, this new animated feature, and the upcoming spin-off, The Hunt for Gollum.

"I have this belief and I hope it's true that in terms of The Rings of Power, I think being able to expand upon the world is only a good thing," Boyens says.

"I particularly love that particular piece of Middle-earth history. Some people seem to think there is a rivalry or conflict between the projects, but there is absolutely not and I don't believe there is from their part either. They should complement each other. Let's have more Tolkien, can you ever have too much?"

For their initial return to Middle-earth, Boyens thought animation was the "perfect" medium to introduce these new characters, as opposed to centring the spin-off on an existing character from the live-action movies.

"We knew that we wanted it to be a standalone story to be able to introduce new characters to the audience," she says. "We wanted the world of Middle-earth, as we know it, to be there on the periphery, but not to be driving the story - it wasn't being driven by the Dark Lord or the Ring. We also knew that we didn't necessarily want to anchor it in one of the characters from the live-action movies, not yet, anyway."

Instead, the central focus is the "wild" and rebellious warrior princess Héra (Gaia Wise), who Boyens insists was the "natural" lead for the story. "I think some people think we deliberately set out to have a lead female character, but when you asked, why not one of the sons? Did you see what happened to those boys? It becomes self-evident," she continues.

"They’re interesting characters and beautifully voiced by our actors in the story, but really fated characters. When you look at what's at the beginning and the heart of this conflict, it is actually that unnamed daughter."

As every decision is made for Héra in her life, including whether she can fight for her people, who she can marry, where she can travel, Boyens wanted to explore how she felt about this complete lack of agency.

"If you start to add other layers on that, such as, what if the boy who's stepping forward seeking her hand is her friend, her childhood friend? So many things become destroyed along the way," she adds.

"As soon as you start delving into that, you follow the natural threads of the story, which is the wreckage of war. Who is left standing through these incredible events that play out? So, the story itself began to tell us who was going to be the most interesting character to view this story through."

The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim arrives in theaters worldwide on December 13. For more, check out our The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim review, as well as how to watch The Lord of the Rings movies and shows in order.

New anime movie The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim has received mixed reviews from critics, but it's still rated higher than one of The Hobbit movies on Rotten Tomatoes.

The War of the Rohirrim currently sits at 62% on the site, while The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies scored 59%. The Desolation of Smaug is at 74%, with An Unexpected Journey at 64%. The three original Lord of the Rings movies all have scores in the nineties.

Our own The War of the Rohirrim review is just 2.5 stars, with our reviewer writing: "What could have been an exciting experiment in telling a new tale in a beloved universe in a very different way feels heavily compromised. Kenji Kamiyama and his fellow anime veterans have produced great work before, but this uninspired expansion of the most iconic screen take on Tolkien doesn't allow anyone to show off what they can do best."

The film is a prequel that tells the story of Helm Hammerhand, who was a King of Rohan – and the namesake of Helm's Deep, as seen in The Two Towers.

Elsewhere in Tolkien adaptations, The Rings of Power season 2 was recently named GamesRadar+'s best TV show of 2024. You can read our exclusive interview with the showrunners through the link for a deep dive on the second season and even a tease about The Rings of Power season 3.

The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim arrives in theaters on December 13, 2024. In the meantime, check out our guide to all the upcoming movies left of this year and beyond to fill out your watchlist.

From The Animatrix to powerhouse Japanese studio Science Saru bringing us Scott Pilgrim Takes Off, the tackling of Western intellectual properties by the anime industry has proved fruitful over the last few decades – just look at how some of the most exciting Star Wars material of late has come from Star Wars: Visions. With The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim, this merging of East and West talent and ideas gets its biggest platform to date.

It's a two-hour-plus feature given a wide theatrical release across the globe, conceived to fit within the continuity of Peter Jackson's live-action Lord of the Rings and Hobbit films (he's an executive producer on this), and directed by the prolific anime veteran Kenji Kamiyama (Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex), with various major Japanese animation houses credited as contributors to the project. But despite all its impressive credentials, this hopeful blockbuster sadly proves to be one of the more uninspired examples of an English-language property being given an anime makeover.

Although The War of the Rohirrim contains a new musical score from Stephen Gallagher, the familiar notes of Howard Shore's piece 'One Ring to Rule Them All' are among the first things we hear in the opening stage-setting of this new film, as the same title card font used for Jackson's The Lord of the Rings trilogy returns to firmly place this movie in that specific universe – if you're more keen on The Rings of Power series, you may still find things to enjoy in this very different prequel to J. R. R. Tolkien's mainline novels. Also returning from the Jacksonverse is Mirando Otto as Éowyn, narrating proceedings as though the film's story is something she's telling to her children.

Back in time

Set nearly 200 years before the events of Jackson's first Middle-earth trilogy, The War of the Rohirrim presents us with Helm Hammerhand (voiced by Brian Cox), a king of Rohan whose name became legend. But the first person we're introduced to is Héra (Gaia Wise), the adult daughter of Helm, whose name, Éowyn tells us, was not passed down in historical records in the same way. A free spirit often found wandering the wilderness, Héra is close with Olwyn (Lorraine Ashbourne), one of the last of the shieldmaidens of lore, and has no interest in plans for marriage that are not born out of love. If you have thought of Princess Merida from Pixar's Brave while reading this, Héra is very much in that character template, and possibly not coincidentally also host to long red hair.

A suitor for Héra is what sparks the film's main conflict, as Dunlending lord Freca (Shaun Dooley) attempts a political maneuver with Helm by proposing that Héra marry his son, Wulf (Luca Pasqualino), a former childhood friend of Héra with whom she would secretly train in sword fighting as a young girl. Things go awry during the tense meeting between the fathers, and following a tragic misjudgement, Wulf has vengeance and the seizing of power set firmly in his sights.

As the ruthless young lord gains dangerous allies and sets up base at Isengard, Helm, his sons Hama (Yazdan Qafouri) and Haleth (Benjamin Wainwright), and his nephew Fréaláf (Laurence Ubong Williams) face additional challenges within their inner circle. Héra, meanwhile, must summon the will to lead as a shieldmaiden, as their deadly enemy forces the people of Rohan to take shelter in the stronghold of the Hornburg, a mighty fortress destined to be renamed and revisited for another siege in The Two Towers.

Fantasy lite

The War of the Rohirrim is an interesting case where a film's potential strengths directly feed into its failings. On the one hand, it's refreshing to get an ostensibly smaller-scale tale set in this universe, where the main antagonist is just a human rather than a magic-user or mythical creature. On the other hand, that this entry in a fantasy series is relatively light on fantastical elements – bar a few single-scene appearances of orcs and monsters, and one plot thread with a wraith – doesn't help to disguise the lack of flavor to this lethargically-paced story. The assembled voice cast gives it their all, but none of these characters pop in a memorable way like even some of the supporting Rohirrim players from Jackson's films – shout out to Gamling in The Two Towers and The Return of the King.

When it comes to the animation itself, there's a sense that design restrictions have been enforced, based on this film serving as a prequel to a set of hugely popular, undeniably iconic blockbusters. There is a recognizable anime flourish in the faces (though not too extreme), but perhaps so as not to alienate fans of Jackson's live-action films who aren't well-versed in anime, character models are otherwise designed to be as boilerplate as possible, with the humans often moving with a distractingly mechanical stiffness.

The few creatures on display fare a little better, with one memorable set piece involving an elephant-like mûmak in the woods being a rare moment where the film comes alive. But the spectacle potential for Tolkien filtered through an anime lens feels wasted, especially when compared to how wild and inventive the contributors to Star Wars: Visions get to make things.

Elsewhere, empty nods to later events – including Mordor orcs looking for rings – grate, while the dramatic way that the title 'Helm's Deep' is delivered hammers that this tale really is little more than an origin story for the name of a location in a much better movie. And one particular voice cameo from a deceased actor jars. Thankfully, their limited dialogue was reportedly pulled from archival material rather than digital resurrection through the dark magic of generative AI (if you don't mind spoilers, you can learn more here). But going to that well for ultimately superfluous ends only adds to this film's imbalance between honoring the past and forging a distinctive identity of its own.

The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim is out in UK cinemas and US theaters on December 13.

For more, check out our guide to how to watch the Lord of the Rings movies in order.

Reactions for The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim are in, and they're overwhelmingly positive.

The anime movie is a prequel that tells the story of Helm Hammerhand, who was a King of Rohan – and the namesake of Helm's Deep.

"The War of the Rohirrim is a ROARING return to Middle-earth with gorgeous animation that wonderfully weaves Peter Jackson’s cinematic vision through the artistry of anime. This is The Lord of the Rings like we’ve never seen before. Overly long but feels so good to be back," says The Movie Podcast co-host Daniel Baptista, while co-host Anthony Gagliardi says: "The War of Rohirrim is BREATHTAKING on the big screen. Kenji Kamiyama directs with cinematic scope, delivering thrilling battles and striking designs. Where it falls short is in its story, which fails to impress or deliver memorable characters."

"The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim is a great addition to the iconic franchise. Perfect for families with teens & Tolkien fans, it has deeper exploration of lore, delivers an empowering story, offers up insane action & features exciting cameos," says Mama's Geeky's Tessa Smith.

"The War of the Rohirrim is a fantastic journey back to Middle-earth! With an outstanding voice cast, dazzling animation, and superb directing from Kenji Kamiyama, the film is an absolute must-watch on the big screen, with its epic action and battle sequences," says Muses of Media's Britany Murphy.

"The War of the Rohirrim blends anime-inspired 2D and 3D animation in an EMPOWERING tale that deepens Middle-earth’s lore with themes of legacy, hope, and leadership. Though stunning, it feels more suited for streaming than theatres. Nonetheless, Tolkien fans will rejoice!" says Geekcentric's Justin Lawrence.

"#LordOfTheRings War of the Rohirrim is a breathtaking jump into anime for the Middle-earth Saga. There is so much to love for the animated return of Tolkien's #LOTR mythology; and it feels every bit as epic and stirring as you'd want. I cannot wait to see this again," says CinemaBlend's Mike Reyes.

"Finally, I can talk about #TheWarofTheRohirrim! If you love the original Lord of the Rings trilogy the new film is 100% for you, and if you love what 'Rings of Power' has been doing, it's also 100% for you. This film reignited my love for Tolkien in a very real way. Stunning animation, gorgeous storytelling, and phenomenal voice work!" says Collider's Maggie Lovitt.

The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim arrives in theaters on December 13, 2024. In the meantime, check out our guide to all the upcoming movies of this year and beyond to fill out your watchlist.

Good news Lord of the Rings fans, the opening scenes of the upcoming animated movie The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim have landed online and are available to watch for free. And it looks like fans are already impressed.

The footage was posted on Twitter by Warner Brothers and captioned “Before you return to Middle-earth, here's an extended preview of what's in store." The 8-minute clip opens with a man caught in a blizzard who comes face to face with a terrifying beast that we cannot see. After a vicious attack, a survivor flees and tells the kingdom’s leader that "he" has killed them all with his bare hands. The rest of the clip shows the dark and snowy winter sweeping through the kingdom, Orcs collecting fistfuls of rings to take to Mordor, and a new look at main character Héra Hammerhand voiced by Gaia Wise. Watch the full clip below.

It looks like fans are already loving the new movie as one replied to the tweet writing, "Wow I can’t wait!" while another posted a GIF of Frodo Baggins applauding.

Set 183 years before the events of Peter Jackson’s The Lord of the Rings trilogy based on the beloved books by J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim tells the story of the King of Rohan Helm Hammerhand as he tries to protect his kingdom against ruthless Dunlending lord Wulf.

The official synopsis from Warner Bros reads: "Wulf, seeking vengeance for the death of his father, forces Helm and his people to make a daring last stand in the ancient stronghold of the Hornburg. Finding herself in an increasingly desperate situation, Héra, the daughter of Helm, must summon the will to lead the resistance against a deadly enemy intent on their total destruction."

As well as Wise, the voice cast also includes Succession’ Brian Cox as Helm Hammerhand, Snowpiercer’s Luke Pasqualino as Wulf, and The Lord of the Rings’ Miranda Otto, who is reprising her role as Éowyn. Lorraine Ashbourne, Yazdan Qafouri, Benjamin Wainwright, Laurence Ubong Williams, Shaun Dooley, and Michael Wildman also star.

The animated film, directed by Blade Runner: Black Lotus’ Kenji Kamiyama also boasts the same screenwriting team behind The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit, as well as Peter Jackson himself on board as a producer.

The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim releases on December 13. For more, check out the best anime you should be watching now and the latest from 2024's biggest new anime.

Lord of the Rings has always been one of the most beloved franchises ever created. However, 2024 has been an especially big year for Tolkien fans. We got The Rings of Power season 2, a new movie (The Hunt for Gollum) confirmed, and then there is the upcoming anime The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim coming out on December 13. So, what better way to celebrate a year of Middle-earth domination than with one of the best Cyber Monday book deals out right now as well?

Amazon is currently selling the hardcover of The Lord of the Rings Illustrated for $40.37 (was $90). If you are unfamiliar with this version of Tolkien's epic, The Lord of the Rings Illustrated includes thirty-two of Tolkien's own full-color illustrations and maps. There's also a sewn-in ribbon bookmark, pages from the Book of Mazarbul, two removable fold-out maps, and a gorgeous red edge on the pages.

This must-have collector's item is now 55% off, significantly cheaper than its base $90.00 price tag. So, instead of watching all the Lord of the Rings movies in order again, it's the perfect time to pick up the novel that started it all.

Should you buy The Lord of the Rings Illustrated?

The big factor that you should consider if you are thinking about buying The Lord of the Rings Illustrated is if you are interested in owning Tolkien's literary work. And if you already own Tolkien's novels, is the inclusion of full color illustrations done by the man himself enough to entice you to add this edition to your collection. For myself (a self-proclaimed mega fan), it's an easy yes. However, it may be a tough sell if you're looking for a casual page turner or would prefer a movie marathon instead.

For all the fans who are still interested in this deal, I also have to mention the fact that we'll likely be getting another edition in 2028. 2028 marks The Lord of the Rings 60th birthday, so I can't imagine there not being a new fancy edition to celebrate. While The Lord of the Rings Illustrated is gorgeous, there's also the possibility of it being overshadowed in a few years, so you may want to hold off if you are pressed for cash and want to have more options.

However, saying all that, a 55% discount is a great bargain, and with all the upcoming Lord of the Rings hype heading our way, I imagine that there will be an increase in demand for books soon. You may want to pick up this edition while you can. For myself, the fact that so much love and appreciation for Tolkien has been put into The Lord of the Rings Illustrated makes it one of the best gifts this holiday season.

From its cover to the drawings, it's a luxury item for book lovers for sure. But with it's new price tag of $40, this deal is good enough to even drag Gollum's attention from the One Ring this Cyber Monday deals period.

For more deals, check out our guide on the best Cyber Monday gaming deals and the best Cyber Monday Lego deals right now.

The team behind new anime movie The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim were initially hesitant about returning to the world of Middle-earth.

As producer Philippa Boyens tells SFX magazine in the new issue, which features Doctor Who's Christmas special 'Joy to the World' on the cover, she wanted to be sure they were not re-treading old ground.

"One of the reasons why I kept getting stuck on what our foray back into the world of Middle-earth could be was that we didn’t want it to involve Dark Lords or rings, and that it could be a self-contained story, that it wouldn’t necessarily involve characters that we already knew, that this could revolve around a whole fresh set of characters," she explains. "I felt it needed to be a story that could stand alone in the form of animation – and I always loved the Rohirrim as a people, I found them fascinating."

It helped too, the producer adds, that it was a new animated approach. Boyens continues: "I was always a little bit sceptical. It wasn’t until Warner Bros came to us and said, 'What about an anime film?' that I felt, 'Yes, an anime film could absolutely work in Middle-earth.' The story of Helm immediately came to mind as soon as they said anime."

Not a subscriber to SFX? Then head on over here to get the latest issues sent directly to your home/device!

The War of the Rohirrim is set 183 years before Peter Jackson's The Lord of the Rings films, telling the story of Helm Hammerhand. He was a legendary king of the Rohan who defended his kingdom against an army of Dunlendings. The voice cast includes Brian Cox in the lead role as Hammerhand, alongside Gaia Wise, Luke Pasqualino, and Miranda Otto.

"It felt like a story that would fit well within the tradition of great Japanese cinematic storytelling," Boyens explains. "Not just themes of honor, but of family, and that sense that even our heroes have quite significant flaws, in the case of Helm Hammerhand."

The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim releases in theaters on December 13. Read more in the latest issue of SFX magazine, which features Doctor Who's Christmas special 'Joy to the World' on the cover and hits newsstands on Tuesday, December 3. Check out the fittingly festive cover below...

For even more from SFX, sign up to our newsletter, which delivers all the latest exclusives straight to your inbox.

Lord of the Rings screenwriter Philippa Boyens has not only confirmed the late Christopher Lee's return as Saruman in War of the Rohirrim, but assured fans that his voice was pulled from authentic archival footage.

"I reached out to Gita, Lady Lee, and she said the thing that I think Peter (Jackson) felt in his heart. Christopher would've wanted this," Boyens told TheOneRing. "And so we went into his records and got to go back and hear his voice, not just doing the lines, but talking to us as well. We based it on a line from The Hobbit, which is, 'Are you in need of assistance, my lady?' [It was] a version of that line... Can we use it? Can we find a new read of it?"                         

Lee played Saruman in both The Lord of the Rings trilogy and The Hobbit trilogy, with The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies being the final movie released in his lifetime.  Saruman is the leader of the Istari, the wizards sent to Middle-earth in human form to go up against Sauron. Saruman has a different arc than the other wizards, however, as he is corrupted by power and tries to take over Middle-earth.

Set approximately 183 years before the events of Lord of the Rings, The War of the Rohirrim is set to explore the era of Helm Hammerhand (Brian Cox), the King of Rohan, and the origins of the fortress at Helm's Deep.

The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim is set to hit theaters on December 13. For more, check out our list of the most exciting upcoming movies in 2024 and beyond.

Despite reports indicating that The Hunt for Gollum would be two movies, the producer has confirmed that this isn't the case – though another Lord of the Rings movie is in the works. 

"I can tell you definitively it isn't two films!" Lord Of The Rings screenwriter Philippa Boyens told Empire. "That was a genuine misunderstanding that happened because we've begun to work, conceptually, on two different live-action films. The first being The Hunt For Gollum, the second one still to be confirmed."

Part of the reason the idea that Hunt for Gollum would be two movies spread is thanks to an interview with Gandalf himself, Sir Ian McKellan. "We're playing around with a number of ideas, but most of those ideas do include Gandalf," Boyens added. "So Gandalf would potentially return for two live-action films."

That's not the end of the potential LOTR expansion, either, with Boyens also teasing that more anime movies could happen if the upcoming War of the Rohirrim is a hit. "We have an absolute banger of a second film that would just be incredible as an anime," she said. "But let's see if there’s an appetite for it."

Of course, if you're wanting more Gandalf now, The Rings of Power season 2 has you covered. The mysterious Stranger was revealed to be the Istar in the season 2 finale. "I haven't yet, no. Gosh, having a chat with Ian would be a wonderful thing. I'd feel very honored to do that," Stranger actor Daniel Weyman told us of if he's reached out to McKellan. "All the people who have played the wizards on screen have been extraordinary."

While you wait for The Hunt for Gollum, check out our guide to all of this year's most exciting upcoming movie release dates to get planning your theater trips. 

Sir Ian McKellen knows exactly when the script for the new Lord of the Rings movie will arrive – and that'll depend on whether or not we see him return as Gandalf.

"All I know is that they called me and said these films were going to happen, mainly going to be about Gollum, Andy Serkis who plays Gollum is going to direct, and there would be a script arriving sometime in the new year – that's next year – and I'll judge whether I want to go back," McKellen said on This Morning.

Added McKellen: "But I would. I would love to go back. I would love to go back to New Zealand, number one. I also don't like the idea of anyone else playing [Gandalf]."

Serkis had previously teased Gandalf's return, saying that we might see "characters we recognize" in the new film. Well, considering that Gandalf is one of the main characters in The Hunt for Gollum...we think it's a given...especially with Ian McKellen previously saying that he 'heard' that Gandalf will indeed be in the film. Now we just have to hope that he likes the script. Aragorn is the other main star of the pic, though Viggo Mortensen has not yet commented on the film.

More Lord of the Rings movies are reportedly on the way, with Peter Jackson directly involved.

The Hunt for Gollum is set to hit theaters in 2026. For more, check out our guides to how to watch The Lord of the Rings movies in order and our breakdown of The Lord of the Rings timeline. 

Orlando Bloom is open to heading back to Middle-earth. 

Bloom, of course, played Legolas in all six of Peter Jackson's Lord of the Rings and Hobbit movies. Now, though, Gollum performer Andy Serkis is set to helm another installment in the fantasy franchise, and Ian McKellan has already revealed Gandalf is likely to return. 

By the sounds of it, Legolas could be back, too, if Bloom is invited to return. "Oh, man, those things are amazing. Yeah. I don't know how they'd do it. I guess with AI you can do anything these days," Bloom told Variety. "But, if Pete [Peter Jackson] says jump, I say, 'how high?' I mean, he started my whole career."

But, Bloom isn't totally up to speed with what's going on. "I really don't know what [they are planning]," he commented. "I did speak to Andy [Serkis] and he did say they were thinking about how to do things. I was like, 'How would that even work?' And he was like, 'Well, AI!' and I was like, 'Oh, OK!' It was a pretty magical time in my life, and it's one of those things where there's not a downside to it."

It's unclear how exactly AI will factor into the movie, then – but, since it's a prequel, we'd wager that it might be involved in de-aging any of the returning actors (if indeed there are any). 

Right now, you can get your fill of Middle-earth with The Rings of Power season 2, which is streaming on Prime Video. Check out our The Rings of Power season 2 release schedule to keep up to date, or our The Rings of Power season 2 review for our verdict on the new episodes. 

After the surprise news that Ian McKellen will be returning as Gandalf, the legendary actor has confirmed that he has no plans to retire. 

"I shall just keep at it as long as the legs and the lungs and the mind keep working," McKellen told BBC Breakfast. 

As for his return as the famous wizard, McKellen said: "I'm not letting anyone else put on the pointy hat and beard if I can help it."

"Enthusiasm for The Lord of the Rings shows no sign of abating," McKellen commented recently of coming back as Gandalf. "I can't tell you any more than that. I've just been told there are going to be more films and Gandalf will be involved and they hope that I'll be playing him."

"When? I don't know. What the script is? It's not written yet. So, they better be quick," he added. 

In May, it was revealed that Andy Serkis would star in and direct the live-action movie The Hunt for Gollum. Plus, Peter Jackson will be involved, acting as a producer on the project. But, it's so early in the process that further details are unknown at this point, beyond Gandalf's apparent involvement. 

Of course, there's also The Rings of Power season 2, which is currently releasing weekly on Prime Video. Depending on who you believe The Stranger is, it's possible that someone else is already playing Gandalf… but that remains to be seen. 

While you wait for more Lord of the Rings, check out our guide to this year's most exciting major movie release dates for everything 2024 has in store. 

Ian McKellen says he’s been approached about playing Gandalf once again in Andy Serkis’ upcoming Lord of the Rings film, The Hunt for Gollum. 

Speaking to The Big Issue, the actor who played the beloved wizard in both the Lord of the Rings and Hobbit trilogies, gave the update. "Enthusiasm for The Lord of the Rings shows no sign of abating," he said when asked about it. "I can’t tell you any more than that. I’ve just been told there are going to be more films and Gandalf will be involved and they hope that I’ll be playing him."

Earlier this year it was confirmed that Serkis would be starring and directing two more Lord of the Rings films focussed around Gollum. Currently, the first has a working release date of 2026, but McKellen adds that they haven’t got a script for it just yet. 

"When? I don’t know. What the script is? It’s not written yet. So, they better be quick," he added. McKellen is recently recovering from a fall on stage during a performance in London’s West End, but his next movie The Critic is out this month.

The new live-action Lord of the Rings films will see Peter Jackson and his partners Fran Walsh and Philippa Boyens return as producers too. However, story details are pretty much non-existent at this point, and no other characters have been announced yet.

"It is so early; it would be unfair to commit to anything at this point. But I will say that it will be a deep dive where we investigate Gollum’s character," Serkis told a panel at ACE Superhero Comic Con 2024 (via Popverse) earlier this year. "There may be characters that we recognize that might be coming back. I’m not going to say who."

The franchise is doing well at the moment though, with an animated movie called The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim due out later this year. The film recently released its trailer, which referenced Jackson’s live-action movies. 

Elsewhere, prequel series The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power is airing its second season on Prime Video. For more information, check out our guides on how to watch the Lord of the Rings movies in order and our breakdown of the Lord of the Rings timeline.

Cate Blanchett says she and her co-stars didn't make very much money off the Lord of the Rings franchise – which comes as a shock.

"Are you kidding me?" Blanchett replied when Watch What Happens Live host Andy Cohen suggested that her biggest paycheck was from Peter Jackson's Lord of the Rings trilogy (via Variety). "No, no one got paid anything to do that movie."

Blanchett played Galadriel in The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Rings, The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers, The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King, The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey, and The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug.

"I basically got free sandwiches, and I got to keep my [elf] ears," Blanchett continued, adding that she never got a "piece of the backend" either.

The first installment in Jackson's trilogy hit theaters in 2001, and grossed $887.4 million against a whopping $93 million budget. All three films together took in a box office total of $1.156 billion. So needless to say, we're frustrated on her behalf.

Despite this, Blanchett said in a recent interview that she would absolutely return as Galadriel for The Hunt for Gollum, which is being directed by none other than Andy Serkis. The actor told The Standard that she "finagled her way into The Hobbit" and that she would "do anything with Andy Serkis."

The Hunt for Gollum is slated for a 2026 release date. Blanchett can currently be seen starring as Lilith in Eli Roth's live-action Borderlands movie. For more, check out our list of the most exciting upcoming movies in 2024 and beyond.

Embracer Group, the company that bought the entirety of Middle-Earth, has a strategy for licensed Lord of the Rings games but reckons "not everything is going to hit it out of the park."

Embracer seeks to expand the already expansive Middle-Earth universe with more haste than the Nazgul search for Hobbits, with plans set for more live-action films starting with a standalone Hunt For Gollum flick, following the failed Gollum game.  

With the Lord of the Rings's big screen renaissance on the way, Embracer Freemode CEO Lee Guinchard was asked about the company's approach to licensed games in an interview with VentureBeat. "All I can say through all of this is you have to respect the works," he said. There's no word on how exactly the company plans to "respect" J.R.R. Tolkien's books but the executive was pretty bullish regardless. 

"We believe that gaming can be the future, of course," Guinchard continued. "And I think we want to do something amazing and big over time. And really, it's important to build those relationships in order to really take this thing into the next chapter. Historically, it's just been so fragmented."

Guinchard acknowledges that "not everything is going to hit it out of the park… but we're really creating an ecosystem and an agile company that invites creators to create things in this world. That's the plan."

Among the games that haven't "hit it out of the park" so far is the above-mentioned Gollum game, which was disastrous enough to become a meme and lead to layoffs for the development studio. Lord of the Rings licenses also led to last year's fairly well-liked co-op game Return to Moria, alongside an upcoming cozy life sim about Hobbits and an Amazon Games MMO from the studio behind New World. 

Embracer CEO admitted he “deserves a lot of criticism” after 1,400 layoffs, 7 studio closures, and 29 canceled games. 

An old interview from The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King DVD extras has resurfaced – and it explains just how treacherous The Battle of the Black Gate actually was.

The Lord of the Rings movies were famously shot in New Zealand, which is green and mountainous and more or less perfect for J.R. Tolkien's fantastical world. The final major battle of the War of the Ring, seen in Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King, takes place at Mordor's Black Gate – which is anything but lush and green.

"For the Black Gates of Mordor location we needed an area that's a bit like a desert," director Peter Jackson explains. "This area of the desert is unfortunately where the New Zealand army do their live firing exercises." Two soldiers then appear to explain that the area in question is where bombs are dropped and demolitions are done.

In the interview, Orlando Bloom and Viggo Mortensen humorously explain that an army officer came to set one morning to explain the difference between a rock and a bomb – and not to touch, kick, or activate the latter. Mortensen goes on to explain that this was kind of an impossible task given that a literal battle takes place in that sand, where those leftover bombs and fragments were embedded. 

"We were filming right in the middle of it doing a battle scene," Bloom recalls. "Churning up the earth with all of us running around and jumping and down."

Because the army didn't want to be responsible for blowing anyone up, they would periodically remove bomb fragments throughout their shooting days. Thankfully, no one was hurt.

For more, check out our list of the best movies of the decade.

One of the most hilarious Lord of the Rings theories may have finally been debunked, thanks to a new hidden detail. 

In Peter Jackson’s beloved adaptation of J.R.R. Tolkien’s books, some eagle-eyed fans noticed that Frodo Baggins never uses Legolas’ name. In fact, the pair barely actually talk to one another in the whole saga apart from one exchange about a bow. This led to a strange, and very tongue-in-cheek, theory to develop among viewers that maybe Frodo doesn’t actually know the Elf’s name.

To give some context, around five years ago, a Reddit user Applecub suggested that Frodo forgot Legolas’ name when the Fellowship reunited in Return of the King. They speculated that Frodo yells Gimli’s name, but he only smiles and nods at the Elf when he walks in. "This is because Frodo’s mind was distracted with the gravity of his mission when he met Legolas so he completely spaced during their introduction," they argued. Watch the clip here and see what you think.

The theory went viral and has long been entered meme territory. That is, until now. In a new post, one viewer spotted indisputable evidence that Frodo does actually know Legolas’ name. Phew.  

Proof that Frodo DOES Know Legolas' Name from r/lotr

So, it’s all down to Frodo’s book he’s writing at the end of Return of the King. Redditor Icy_Statement_2410 screenshotted and zoomed in, noticing that the name "Legolas" is written on the page.

"Frodo's book at the end," they wrote. "He finished it years after the ring was destroyed, so it's possible he didn't know Legolas' name at the time but learned it later (even just to write the book). But this is indisputable proof that Frodo does indeed know Legolas' name and even spells it correctly with all the accents and everything."

Well, there you have it. It may be a friendship of few words, but they at least know each other’s names. For more on Middle-earth, check out our guides to The Rings of Power season 2 and how to watch the Lord of the Rings movies and shows in order.

Even the most knowledgeable Tolkein fan may have a hard time working out how to watch The Lord of the Rings movies in order these days. Not only is there a spin-off TV show gearing up for its third outing, but there not one, but two new movies to contend with.

That's right – The Hunt for Gollum isn't the only new big-screen visit to Middle-earth on the horizon. Another movie, developed by Stephen Colbert, is now in the works, further muddying the Lord of the Rings timeline. But that's where we come in. We've compiled the ultimate guide below on how to watch the Lord of the Rings movies in order (including the TV show), so you can get up to speed at a glance.

With The Rings of Power season 3 getting closer by the day, there's never been a better time to get up to date. So, as a certain wizard would say, follow your nose to our guide below.

The Lord of the Rings movies and shows in release order

• The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (2001)
• The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers (2002)
• The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (2003)
• The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey (2012)
• The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug (2013)
• The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies (2014)
• The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power season 1 (2022)
• The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power season 2 (2024)
• The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim (2024)

There are two main ways to navigate your journey into Middle-earth: in release order, or in chronological order. Here's your guide to the former, which is how most people familiar with the world already will have watched them.

We've got to admit this is probably the most satisfying way to tackle the saga, as it's the way it was intended to be watched. And you won't miss much, as you don’t get a huge amount of context that you’ll need later on from the prequels; they just add more to it once you’ve seen it.

The Lord of the Rings movies and shows in chronological order

• The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power season 1 (2022)
• The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power season 2 (2024)
• The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim (2024)
• The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey (2012)
• The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug (2013)
• The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies (2014)
• The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (2001)
• The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers (2002)
• The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (2003)

The other major way to get your head around The Lord of the Rings saga is to tackle it in the order of events. That means starting with The Rings of Power, which is set thousands of years before the movies in the Second Age of Middle-earth and tells the origins of characters like Galadriel and Sauron.

However, for all you Tolkien purists, be warned that The Rings of Power doesn't stick to Tolkien's canon. In fact, in its current state, it breaks canon and will likely cause some outrage. The prequel series implies that Celeborn isn't alive (despite his appearing in The Fellowship years after the Rings of Power and therefore also implying that his granddaughter Arwen won't be born either). So keep that in mind if you include it in your marathon. If you do choose to watch it, I suggest enjoying it as a completely separate piece of work from the timeline, which is more inspired by Tolkien than an actual adaptation of his work.

Then, going back to the movies, there's a very big jump ahead as we enter the Third Age with The War of the Rohirrim. This animated film is set roughly 250 years before the events of the Hobbit films and follows the reign of the Rohan King Helm Hammerhand. Watching this will give you some backstory details for Helm's Deep, which is pretty neat.

Otherwise, the next films in the timeline are The Hobbit films, which take place around 60 years before The Lord of the Rings Movies. Watching it in this order will mean you have a lot more context for some of the big events and main characters by the time you reach The Fellowship of the Ring. So, if you're a viewer who likes to know the whole picture first, then this might be the way for you to tackle it.

Where to watch the Lord of the Rings movies in order

Unfortunately, not all of The Lord of the Rings movies and shows are available in one place. So you'll have to do a bit of streaming platform hopping to be able to stay on top of your watching saga.

Luckily, most are on the same platform. All of The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit movies are available to watch on HBO's streaming platform, HBO Max, in the US. Meanwhile, if you're in the UK, you'll need to have NOW TV in order to stream them – and The War of the Rohirrim is available to rent on Apple TV. The Rings of Power is only available on Prime Video, so you'll need a subscription to that streaming service to be able to watch it (however, since the series breaks canon, it's not necessary viewing if you're looking for something to skip).

If you want to keep it all in one place, you can buy the movies on Amazon as well, so you don't have to keep switching apps.

New Lord of the Rings movies and shows

The Hunt for Gollum

The Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum is scheduled for release in December 2027 and will be directed by Andy Serkis, who will also be returning to reprise his role as Gollum.

If you didn't know already, The Hunt for Gollum appeared in The Lord of the Rings appendices and was mentioned throughout The Fellowship of the Ring. The events of the Hunt for Gollum aren't a lengthy affair, though. In fact, it takes place around the time between Bilbo's birthday party and the start of Frodo's adventure, where he is told to leave the Shire. That's a quick timeframe to work with, so we'll likely see Serkis make changes or additions here or there. Whether longtime Tolkien fans embrace those hypothetical story decisions is to be seen.

The Lord of the Rings: Shadows of the Past

Developed by comedian Stephen Colbert with his screenwriter son Peter McGee, Shadows of the Past will be adapted from chapters of Tolkien's The Fellowship of the Ring that didn’t make it into Peter Jackson’s 2001 movie – Chapter 3, 'Three Is Company' through to Chapter 8, Fog on the Barrow-Downs. Franchise mainstay Philippa Boyens is working on the script.

Per the official logline, Shadows of the Past will be set 14 years after Frodo's death, as Sam, Merry, and Pippin "set out to retrace the first steps of their adventure. Meanwhile, Sam's daughter, Elanor, has discovered a long-buried secret and is determined to uncover why the War of the Ring was very nearly lost before it even began."

Warner Bros. Discovery's CEO David Zaslav stated in 2023 that there are plans for multiple new movies set in Tolkien’s universe, and Boyens has hinted that Gandalf will be a major focus going forward. Stay tuned for updates!

For more on Middle-earth, we've got a guide to the best Lord of the Rings games for you to play right now. Or you can check out our Rings of Power season 2 review if you fancy hearing about Amazon Prime's latest Tolkien outing.

Lord of the Rings fans have noticed a confusing detail in Return of the King, and it's got everyone speculating. 

In Gandalf's showdown with the Witch-king – a scene only found in the extended editions – the sinister villain breaks Gandalf's magic staff. But, by the end of the film, in the Grey Havens, the wizard has the staff once more. What gives, Gandalf?

How did Gandalf get his staff back? After the witch king destroyed it? from r/lordoftherings

"That scene is one of my few gripes about [Peter Jackson]'s movies," says one fan. "The way [J.R.R] Tolkien wrote it was much better and the Witch-king shouldn't be able to break the staff of a wizard." In the film, the Witch-king leaves after breaking Gandalf's staff when he hears a horn in the distance; in the book, Gandalf and the Witch-king do have a confrontation, which again ends with horns, but, crucially, with no broken staff. 

"I prefer just to ignore that the witch king destroyed his staff in the movie," says another person. "Honestly this," agrees another. "The movies aren't as perfectly consistent as the books. Some things in the movies you just have to accept as 'it looks cool, so we won't think too much about how illogical this is.'"

But, there's probably a very simple explanation. "Gandalf lost his first staff during the fight with the Balrog," points out one fan. "Then he got his second staff from the Elves in Lorien (he also gets new clothing there). So maybe that's where the staff at the end came from as well."

This is our favorite explanation, though: "Tom Bombadill whittled Gandalf a new one from a tree during his stay with Tom after the destruction of the One Ring. This was revealed to me in a dream."

Our next trip to Middle-earth will come in The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power season 2, though the new episodes don't yet have a release date. In the meantime, check out our guide to the best shows on Amazon Prime Video to fill out your watchlist. 

It may feel like we’ve seen a lot of DC, Lord of the Rings, and Harry Potter on our screens over the past few decades, but the Warner Bros. Discovery CEO thinks otherwise. David Zaslav says he thinks they’ve been underusing these franchises.

Per The Wrap, he said at a recent conference: "One of the other real strengths of Warner Bros. is we talk about the great IP that Warner Bros. owns. But, for us, the challenge is that our content, our great IP – Harry Potter, DC, Lord of the Rings – that content has been underused." 

He then continued, "When you put those franchises in, it’s the best performing studio in the world. We need to deploy our best capital, and we need to do it with the best creative people in the world."

We’ve got to be honest, it’s an unexpected take from Zaslav on all fronts. There have been a huge number of DC movies that have been released over the past few years. Meanwhile, despite him saying Harry Potter hasn’t been used in a decade, there have been several Fantastic Beasts prequels during that time. 

Then there’s the Lord of the Rings elephant in the room. Yes, Amazon Studios has released a huge prequel series in The Rings of Power, but it seems Zaslav is disregarding this as it doesn’t fall under the WBD umbrella. 

Admittedly, it does seem change is somewhat afoot at studio with more plans for these franchises in the pipeline. We know there’s a Harry Potter TV show and a Lord of the Rings animated movie. Then there’s James Gunn’s and Peter Safran’s DCU Chapter One plans, which feature Superman and Batman reboots. 

Although, of course, this is all provided the studios reach a deal amid the ongoing WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes. 

For more upcoming movies, check out our 2023 movie release dates guide.

We're going to have to wait a little while longer for a new Lord of the Rings movie. Thanks to the knock-on effect of delaying Dune 2 amid the ongoing WGA writers' strike and SAG-AFTRA actors' strike, Lord Of The Rings: The War of the Rohirrim has also been pushed back. 

The animated film was slated for April 12, 2024, but Godzilla X Kong: The New Empire now occupies that date, after Dune 2 took its original March 15, 2024 slot (the Dune sequel was meant to come out this November). The War of the Rohirrim will now land on December 13, 2024 – the same date as the upcoming new Karate Kid film (H/T Deadline). 

The War of the Rohirrim is an anime movie that will focus on Helm Hammerhand, the King of Rohan, who will be voiced by Succession star Brian Cox. Miranda Otto will also reprise her role as Eowyn. 

The film is directed by Kenji Kamiyama and is set around 200 years before The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers – that film features an epic battle at Helm's Deep, which is named after Helm Hammerhand. 

Though the delay is pretty gutting, it also brings the film into line with the rest of the Lord of the Rings movies, which were all released in December. Christmas in Middle-earth, anyone?

As for more LOTR projects, The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power season 2 is still in the works. Filming wrapped ahead of the SAG-AFTRA actors' strike, though there's still no release date for the episodes of Amazon Prime Video's epic fantasy show just yet. 

While you wait for more Lord of the Rings, check out our guide to the best shows on Amazon Prime Video to fill out your watchlist. 

A clip of someone watching The Lord of the Rings: Return of the King on a United Emirates flight full of people watching the Women's World Cup is making the rounds online – and we get it.

The clip, posted to Twitter by Australian journalist Jacqueline Felgate, sees (almost) an entire plane of soccer fans cheer for the Matildas as they advanced to the semifinals. In the center of the clip is someone catching the end of Return of the King, when Frodo wakes up after destroying the ring. The best part of the clip is the unintentionally hilarious timing: the plane cheers for the team at the exact moment Merry and Pippin walk into frame to greet Frodo – uniting the Fellowship once more.

The shootout victory against France was the longest of its kind in men's or women's World Cup history, with a record 20 kicks. The passengers on the plane – except our friend in the middle there – can be seen cheering at Cortnee Vine's winning penalty.

If you're a sports fan, you might be wondering why someone would be watching a fantasy film from 2003 on a plane full of Australian football fans who are witnessing literal history being made. And to that we say: the Peter Jackson-directed Lord of the Rings films are some of the best cinema ever made, so we honestly don't blame them. We're extremely happy for the Matildas, though. Go sports.

For more, check out our list of the 100 best movies of the decade, or, check out our list of the most exciting upcoming movies in 2023 and beyond.