‘The Hunt for Gollum’ Just Crossed a Major Finish Line in Middle-earth

Few performers are as closely tied to a single character as Andy Serkis is to Gollum. Serkis originated the creature through groundbreaking motion-capture work in Peter Jackson’s trilogies, and he is now directing the new film while reprising the role. That makes this one of the most personal projects the franchise has attempted in years.

The journey back to Middle-earth began in earnest this summer. Production on ‘The Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum’ officially began on July 15, 2026, with Warner Bros. sharing a video in which Serkis confirmed that filming was underway. The clip showed him in his motion-capture suit on the first day, striking a Gollum pose and calling “action” in the character’s voice before cutting to a New Zealand location.

Now, several months later, the cameras have stopped rolling. Culture Crave was among the accounts spreading the news on X that Serkis has confirmed the film has wrapped. Speaking on ‘The Morning Mosh Pit,’ Serkis said principal photography on the film has just wrapped, and he described it as an incredible journey back into one of Tolkien’s most complicated characters.

The wrap comes as other members of the ensemble are speaking up. Jamie Dornan, who steps into the role of Aragorn, said he finished his scenes about three weeks ago and called the experience incredible. He also admitted that learning he had landed the part brought him to tears.

Dornan has big shoes to fill. Viggo Mortensen, who played Aragorn in the original films, passed on Warner Bros.’ offer to reprise the role in April. Dornan’s version of the character is a younger Strider. In the story, he sets out to find Gollum before the creature can lead Sauron’s forces to the One Ring.

Producer Peter Jackson had already hinted that the shoot was nearly done. At a fan session during the Sitges Film Festival in Spain, he said ‘The Hunt for Gollum’ was almost finished filming, while ‘The Shadow of the Past’ was still in the scriptwriting stage. That suggests Warner Bros. is thinking beyond one film, even if nothing further has been formally announced.

The production has also stirred some debate along the way. Serkis confirmed to Variety that AI-assisted de-aging will appear in the film, though he declined to say which actors are involved. Speaking to The Times, he also admitted that spending so many years with the character has even disrupted his sleep, according to ComingSoon.

The cast list is a mix of old and new faces. Serkis returns as Gollum alongside Ian McKellen as Gandalf, Elijah Wood as Frodo, Lee Pace as Thranduil and Kate Winslet as Marigol. Leo Woodall as Halvard and Anya Taylor-Joy as an elf have joined as well.

The film is set in the stretch between ‘The Hobbit’ and ‘The Fellowship of the Ring,’ a period fans have long wanted to see explored on screen. It reunites Serkis with Jackson, Fran Walsh and Philippa Boyens, the creative team behind the original ‘Lord of the Rings’ and ‘Hobbit’ trilogies. That continuity behind the camera is a big part of why the project has stirred so much anticipation.

With filming complete, the focus shifts to post-production and the long wait for audiences. The film is scheduled to open in theaters on Dec. 17, 2027. If the final product matches the care that went into the shoot, Gollum’s latest hunt could be worth the wait.