New Lord Of The Rings film The Hunt For Gollum to be first of two new movies set in Middle Earth

Andy Serkis, known for his portrayal of Gollum in Peter Jackson’s Lord Of The Rings trilogy, will direct and star in the first of the two new films, Warner Bros has announced.

The team behind the Lord Of The Rings trilogy will work on two new films, Warner Bros has announced.

Peter Jackson, the mastermind behind the epic Oscar-winning films released in 2001, 2002 and 2006, will produce the films alongside Fran Walsh and Philippa Boyens.

Andy Serkis, known for playing Gollum in the original trilogy based on JRR Tolkien’s fantasy novels set in the world of Middle Earth, will again star as the character and direct the first of the new movies, Lord Of The Rings: The Hunt For Gollum.

In a statement sure to excite fans, Serkis used Gollum’s catchphrase, saying: “Yesssss, Precious.”

He added: “The time has come once more to venture into the unknown with my dear friends, the extraordinary and incomparable guardians of Middle Earth – Peter, Fran and Philippa.”

The producing team “will be involved every step of the way” in the new venture, Warner Bros. Discovery’s CEO, David Zaslav, said.

Warner Bros. had first announced in 2023 that it was planning a number of new films set in the Lord Of The Rings world.

Jackson’s original trilogy was followed by another based on Tolkien’s prequel book, The Hobbit.

The first new film focusing on Gollum is scheduled for release in 2026.

Jackson, Walsh and Boyens said: “It is an honour 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!

“As lifelong fans of Professor Tolkien’s vast mythology, we are proud to be working with Mike De Luca, Pam Abdy and the entire team at Warner Bros. on another epic adventure!”

Jackson’s Lord Of The Rings films, which were shot simultaneously in Jackson’s native New Zealand, won 17 Oscars.

A separate animated Middle Earth movie set 200 years before the plot of The Hobbit and entitled The Lord Of The Rings: The War Of The Rohirrim, will be out in December this year.