Peter Jackson and Andy Serkis reunite for new Middle-earth epics
Twenty years after "The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King" premiere and ten years after "The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies," director Peter Jackson revisits Middle-earth. He embarks on producing at least two new movies set in Tolkien's universe with other creators of the iconic trilogies.
11 May 2024 22:01
David Zaslav, CEO of Warner Bros. Discovery, has officially announced that Warner Bros. is crafting quite a treat for Tolkien enthusiasts. The signed agreements include making a series of films set in Middle-earth, with at least two titles currently planned, the first of which is expected to be released in 2026.
The working title for the first film is "Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum." It's known that Andy Serkis, who brought Gollum to life in both "The Lord of the Rings" and "The Hobbit," will take the director's chair. Additionally, the writing and producing team will include veterans of the original movies, such as Peter Jackson, Fran Walsh, and Philippa Boyens.
- It is an honor and a privilege to travel back to Middle-earth with our good friend and collaborator, Andy Serkis, who has unfinished business with that stinker – Gollum! - Jackson, Walsh, and Boyens shared.
Andy Serkis has achieved significant fame and recognition as an actor, using motion and face capture technology not just for his role as Gollum but also for Caesar in the "Planet of the Apes" series, Snoke in "Star Wars," and live-action roles in productions like "Andor," "Black Panther," "Luther: The Fallen Sun," and "Batman." Furthermore, Serkis has directed several films, including "Breathe," "Mowgli: Legend of the Jungle," and "Venom 2: Carnage."
"The Lord of the Rings" - one of the biggest cinematic hits of all time
It's worth noting that the three "The Lord of the Rings" movies, released between 2001-2003, earned £2.5 billion and collected seventeen Oscars. "The Hobbit," divided into three films (2012-2014), may not have impressed the Academy (zero Oscars from seven nominations), but it grossed nearly £2.5 billion at the box office altogether.
Before the Gollum movie reaches cinemas, Tolkien fans can revisit Middle-earth through the second season of "The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power." Eight new episodes will premiere on Amazon Prime Video later this year.
