Legendary actor Ian McKellen, beloved for his role as Gandalf in The Lord of the Rings films, recently revealed some surprising news. In a recent interview, Ian Mckellen shared that the upcoming Lord of the Rings project, titled The Hunt for Gollum, will now be split into two separate movies. This new development comes after Ian McKellen was approached to return as Gandalf in the project, directed by Andy Serkis, who is famous for his role as Gollum in both The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit trilogies.
What Is “The Hunt for Gollum”?
A brand-new narrative set in the Lord of the Rings universe is called The Hunt for Gollum. It will occur prior to The Fellowship of the Ring’s events. Andy Serkis will play the story’s main character, Gollum, once more. The Hunt for Gollum takes inspiration from some of the things that are mentioned in passing in J.R.R. Tolkien’s novels, even if it is not explicitly based on any one of his books. The film will delve into the time before the main events of The Lord of the Rings trilogy, when Gollum is being sought after.
The two parts of this movie series are scheduled for release in 2026, and Serkis will be directing and playing the title character again.
Does “The Hunt for Gollum” Need to Be Two Movies?
Despite having committed to playing Gandalf again, Ian McKellen stated that he has not yet seen the script and is unsure of many production details. There has been discussion about the choice to divide The Hunt for Gollum into two films. Naturally, the prospect of going back to Middle-earth excites fans of the Lord of the Rings series. But there are mounting doubts as to whether Gollum’s pursuit is a compelling enough tale to warrant two movies. Questions concerning the scope of a Lord of the Rings prequel have been raised before.
One sentence from J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Fellowship of the Ring novel could provide some information. Aragorn discusses his search for Gollum in this section, stating that there was “little need to tell of” what he went through at the time.
The worry is increased when one considers the Hobbit trilogy, which was also made into three films despite being taken from a relatively short novel. Despite the visually stunning and entertaining parts of the flicks, some fans thought the tale was stretched out needlessly. Many worry that The Hunt for Gollum would end up like this, with the story being dragged out over two films.
The Challenges of Expanding a Small Story
Expanding what is, by all accounts, a modest and seldom stated storyline into a captivating narrative that spans two films will be one of the main obstacles facing the filmmakers. The Fellowship’s voyage and the battles for Middle-earth are two important Lord of the Rings narratives that carry more weight than Gollum’s pursuit, fascinating though it may be at times.
Gollum’s capture seems like a small thing compared to the grand stories found in The Lord of the Rings or even the upcoming anime film War of the Rohirrim. Instead of telling a unique and captivating story, the filmmakers run the risk of depending too much on the success of the franchise itself if there isn’t a compelling fundamental conflict.
Unlike The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit trilogy, The Hunt for Gollum does not have direct source material to follow. This implies that the authors will have to rely on their capacity to develop a completely original story. This provides creative freedom but also poses risks, as there isn’t a ready-made story to adapt, meaning every detail must be built from scratch.
Is This a Sign of Too Many “Lord of the Rings” Movies?
This raises yet another crucial issue. A growing number of fans are beginning to question whether there are just too many Lord of the Rings films. Numerous other movies and television shows that are set in the same universe have been released after the first trilogy. Although the trilogies for The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings were generally well received, there is worry that include too many side stories, spin-offs, and prequels could lessen the overall impact of Tolkien’s original universe.
Despite the extensive history of the Lord of the Rings franchise, not every event that is addressed in the books may warrant a separate film adaptation. A franchise’s popularity does not always indicate that every possible plot should be adapted into a movie.
.. For example, the 2024 film The War of the Rohirrim is based on a crucial and action-packed segment of the narrative that can stand alone. Gollum’s capture, in contrast, doesn’t seem to have the same dramatic impact.
A Glimmer of Hope: Peter Jackson and Andy Serkis’ Involvement
There are reasons to be optimistic about The Hunt for Gollum in spite of these worries. Producer of the upcoming movies is Peter Jackson, who directed The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit trilogies. His influence and familiarity with the Lord of the Rings world will surely aid in directing the production. In addition, Andy Serkis is a gifted actor and director who is well-known for his proficiency in motion capture scenes. His depiction of Gollum is already well-known.
Serkis is the only one who can give Gollum more nuance and make his quest a captivating tale. With Serkis in the director’s chair and Ian McKellen reprising his role as Gandalf, There’s a chance the filmmakers will succeed in producing a work that fits the cherished franchise.
Conclusion
The decision to divide The Hunt for Gollum into two films is an intriguing and slightly dangerous one. Although fans can’t wait to see Ian McKellen as Gandalf and Andy Serkis as Gollum when they return to Middle-earth, there are legitimate questions about whether the plot is compelling enough to warrant two feature-length films. It’s difficult to believe there would be enough material for two films without going over the edge of the plot, considering how briefly Gollum’s hunt is mentioned in Tolkien’s original work.
There is still hope, nevertheless, that Andy Serkis and Peter Jackson will make The Hunt for Gollum a worthy and interesting addition to the Lord of the Rings narrative. Fans will now have to wait until 2026 to find out what happens in this new journey.
FAQs
Who will direct The Hunt for Gollum?
Andy Serkis, famous for playing Gollum, will direct the new two-part film.
Will Ian McKellen return as Gandalf in The Hunt for Gollum?
Yes, Ian McKellen is expected to reprise his role as Gandalf.
Why is The Hunt for Gollum being split into two movies?
The filmmakers believe the story is large enough to be divided into two films, though this decision has sparked debate.
What is The Hunt for Gollum about?
The film follows the story of Gollum being hunted before the events of The Fellowship of the Ring.
When will The Hunt for Gollum be released?
The two movies are set for release in 2026.
