Elijah Wood Hints at Exciting Updates for New ‘Lord of the Rings’ Film

Elijah Wood has shared new details about the upcoming Lord of the Rings live-action film, The Hunt for Gollum, giving fans plenty to be excited about.

Speaking at this year’s DesertCon, Wood described the project as a reunion of the key creative team behind the original Lord of the Rings films.

“I know a great deal about it. I’ve read it. It’s really good,” Wood said (via JoBlo). “There’s some wonderful people involved. The thing that is so exciting is, it’s really getting the creative band back together … the kind of creative brain trust behind Lord of the Rings: Fran [Walsh], Peter [Jackson], Philippa [Boyens], they’re heavily involved. And then, the same production designers. It’s going to be shot in New Zealand.”

“So, it’s going to carry with it such continuity with so many of the people who are a part of Lord of the Rings, and I’m really excited about that. It feels like getting that old machine up and running again with all of the right people. So I’m really excited. There’s gonna be some fun bits that I think people are gonna be stoked about.” He said.

After Middle-earth Enterprises was acquired by Embracer Group, Warner Bros. and New Line announced a new deal to produce more live-action Lord of the Rings films. In May 2024, the studios confirmed two films were in development, with Peter Jackson, Fran Walsh, and Philippa Boyens returning as producers.

The first film has been given the working title The Hunt for Gollum, with Andy Serkis set to direct and a screenplay written by Walsh, Boyens, Philippa Gittins, and Papageorgiou.

In October 2024, Boyens revealed that both films will feature Gandalf, though the second project has not yet been officially titled. Filming for The Hunt for Gollum is scheduled to begin in 2026, with Wellington, New Zealand serving as the production hub, according to RNZ.

Fans are also curious about the return of familiar faces. Sir Ian McKellen, who famously played Gandalf in the original trilogy, has said he would be open to reprising his role. At a fan event in August, McKellen confirmed, “There’s a character in the movie called Frodo, and there’s a character in the movie called Gandalf,” though he did not specify whether he or Elijah Wood would be returning to their original roles.

The Hunt for Gollum is slated for release on December 17, 2027, promising a mix of familiar magic and new adventures in Middle-earth. Fans can expect the film to continue the rich visual and storytelling style established in the original trilogy while introducing fresh elements to expand the Lord of the Rings universe.

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