Popverse's top stories

• DC Comics sends Absolute Batman, Absolute Wonder Woman, and the entire Absolute Universe back to press for a massive March rollout
• Creel World Seattle: Stranger Things' Jamie Campbell Bower is coming to ECCC 2026!
• Members only: Ask Ming-Na Wen, Critical Role, Gail Simone, Karl Urban, Chris Claremont, Denys Cowan, and more your questions as part of ECCC x Popverse member exclusive!

The Lord of the Rings is heading back to theaters, over a quarter-century after The Fellowship of the Ring made its cinematic debut. I'm speaking, of course, about The Hunt for Gollum, the 2027 film that will see LotR star Andy Serkis both returning to his titular character and stepping into the director's role. We don't know too much about the movie just yet, but thanks to a pivotal member of the team that brought LotR to life the first time, we know a little bit more than we did a while ago.

That person is Phillipa Boyens, screenwriter of the original Lord of the Rings trilogy and scribe of the Hunt for Hollum script. Speaking with Empire Magazine in a special 25th-anniversary Fellowship edition, Boyens shone a rare light onto the murky project and its even murkier protagonist

"It’s an adventure story," Boyens said, "With a really strong psychological, interior story that’s going on as well."

This makes a lot of sense - Gollum spent some of his screentime literally arguing with his better alter-personality, Sméagol, so it's only natural we'd see more of that in a movie wherein he plays a starring role. Not to mention the man in charge is probably the man who's spent the most time in Gollum's head. Of course, Boyens clarifies, the fact that this movie will spend some time playing in Gollum's psyche doesn't mean Serkis performance will be any less physical. 

"I was on the mo-cap stage," Boyens recounts from being on set, "And I said to Andy, 'Right, assume the position.' I cannot believe how fit that guy is as he clambered up the structure [...] It’s ridiculous. I’m like, 'Can you start ageing?'"

No Phillipa, he can't. The Ring won't let him.

The Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum is set for release December 17, 2027. In the meantime, all three Lord of the Rings movies (and the extended editions!) are streaming on HBO Max.

Whether you're Shirefolk, Elven, Dwarven, or something else, there's a good reason to love Lord of the Rings. We do! With that in mind, we have a dragon's horde of goodies for you:

• Lord of the Rings reading guide 
• Lord of the Rings watch guide
• The Lord of the Rings reunion panel you can watch 
• The OG Hobbit actors stay in touch every day on a groupchat 
• The true message of the Lord of the Rings film trilogy, according to Gimli himself - John Rhys-Davies.