<p>The buzzy Andy Serkis-helmed epic starring Jamie Dornan is due to hit theaters early next year.&nbsp;</p>

<p>After he takes on a dual lead role as identical twins Adam and Lee in the upcoming six-episode Netflix crime-noir limited series <em>The Twin </em>premiering on January 1, 2027, Jamie Dornan will star in the buzzy side-quest of a beloved epic: <em>The Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum</em>. Read on for everything we know about the project so far.&nbsp;</p>

<h2 style="text-align: center;"><strong>What is <em>The Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum </em>about?</strong></h2>

<p>The official logline for <em>The Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum</em> is largely under wraps, but the story generally follows Aragorn as he tries to track down Gollum to prevent him from revealing the location of the One Ring (the Shire) to Sauron and his dark forces. Set&nbsp;between Bilbo Baggins’s birthday party at the start of&nbsp;<em>The Fellowship of the Ring</em> and the founding of the Fellowship, the story spans roughly 17&nbsp;years.&nbsp;</p>

<h2 style="text-align: center;"><strong>Who’s the director for <em>The Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum</em>?</strong></h2>

<p>Andy Serkis, who played the titular Gollum in the original films, is directing, while the original trilogy’s director, Peter Jackson, is producing alongside longtime screenwriters Fran Walsh and Philippa Boyens. The script is penned by Walsh and Boyens alongside Phoebe Gittins and Arty Papageorgiou. Naturally, the script is structurally based on the rich lore, notes, and canonical character backstories created by J.R.R. Tolkien.</p>

<h2 style="text-align: center;"><strong>Who has played Aragorn in past adaptations of <em>The Lord of the Rings</em>?</strong></h2>

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<p dir="ltr" role="presentation">A stoic and noble warrior with a dry sense of humor, reluctant heroism, controlled rage, and a cautious and mysterious edge, Aragorn is a part many actors dream of but few have had the chance to sink their teeth into. Dornan is following in the footsteps of a stellar performance. His younger version of Aragorn (also known as the Ranger Strider), was famously played by Viggo Mortensen in Peter Jackson’s original trilogy. Director Andy Serkis told Joshua Horowitz on the podcast <em>Happy Sad Confused</em> earlier this year that both he and Mortensen are “absolutely thrilled” that Dornan is taking on the role. With this stamp of approval from his heavily lauded predecessor, it seems like we’re in for one memorable performance from Dornan.&nbsp;</p>
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<h2 style="text-align: center;"><strong><em>The Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum </em>Full Cast&nbsp;</strong></h2>
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<p>The supporting cast is star-studded with many returning players as well as seasoned actors who are new to the trilogy. In addition to Jamie Dornan stepping into the role of Strider/Aragorn, and Andy Serkis returning as Gollum, the cast also includes Ian McKellen reprising his iconic role as Gandalf; Elijah Wood returning as Frodo Baggins; Lee Pace returning as the Elvenking Thranduil; Kate Winslet joining the franchise as a new character named Marigol; Leo Woodall cast as Halvard and Anya Taylor-Joy as Seren.</p>

<h2 style="text-align: center;"><strong><em>The Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum</em> Release Date&nbsp;</strong></h2>

<p>Principal photography for the Warner Brothers epic officially kicked off on July 14, 2026, beginning on a specialized motion-capture stage. Primarily being shot in Wellington, New Zealand, the production window for the initial main shoot is scheduled from July through October 2026.&nbsp;<em>The Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum</em> will be released exclusively in theaters on December 17, 2027.</p>

Everything to Know About the New 'Lord of the Rings' Film Featuring Jamie Dornan

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