Written by: Jaylin Hardin | Sports Editor
Fans of “The Lord of the Rings” rejoice: Warner Brothers Studios has confirmed a new batch of live-action films set in the Middle-Earth cinematic universe. The first of these, titled “The Hunt for Gollum,” is slated for a 2026 release and will focus on Andy Serkis’ character, Gollum. Serkis played this role between 2001 and 2003 in “The Lord of the Rings” trilogy and later reprised it in the 2014 prequel movie, “The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey.”
Peter Jackson, the filmmaker for both “The Lord of the Rings” and “The Hobbit” trilogies and his partners Fran Walsh and Philippa Boyens are producing the movie and are quoted as being involved every step of the way.” Walsh and Boyens both worked on the first two trilogies with Jackson, and Serkis is set to direct and star in the film.
Other live-action films have yet to be revealed but are likely to explore author J.R.R. Tolkien’s works that have not been touched by the industry.
Warner Bros. announced in February of 2023 that the new studio leaders, Mike De Luca and Pam Abdy, had brokered a deal to make multiple films based on Tolkien’s universe, which will be developed through the New Line Cinema label.
An animated Middle-Earth movie is set to be released into theaters on Dec. 13, 2024, from director Kenji Kamiyama — best known in the United States as a background artist for “Kiki’s Delivery Service” and lead animator for the “Star Wars: Visions” episode, “The Ninth Jedi.”
Set 183 years before the events of “The Lord of the Rings,” “The War of the Rohirrim” will follow a legendary king of Rohan and his family as they defend their country. Brian Cox is set to voice King Helm Hammerhead, and Miranda Otto will reprise her role of Eowyn, who narrates the film.
But even before “The War of the Rohirrim” premieres, season two of “The Rings of Power” will launch on the streaming service, Prime Video, on Aug. 29. The show takes its source material from Tolkien’s “The Silmarillion” and follows elf queen Galadriel, played by Morfydd Clark, as she and her allies defend Middle-Earth from Sauron and his forces. Season one of “The Rings of Power” was first released in September of 2022 and ran for eight episodes.
On May 14, a trailer for season two was posted to @ringsofpower on Instagram, with the caption “Darkness will bind them. The Rings of Power returns August 29 on Prime Video.”
Whether this new lineup will stun audiences following the first two trilogies will be something only time will tell.
Contact the author at howlsports@wou.edu
