Andy Serkis Wraps First Week of Filming on 'The Hunt for Gollum' as Middle-earth Production Officially Begins

Production on "The Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum" has officially begun in New Zealand, with director and star Andy Serkis confirming that the first week of filming is already in the can. Serkis, who reprises his iconic motion-capture role as Gollum, shared the update in a recent interview with Variety, stating, "We've literally just finished a week. We're finally up and running, it's great." Warner Bros. also released behind-the-scenes footage showing Serkis in a motion capture suit on set, interacting with a production assistant and preparing to film the opening scene, as reported by Variety.

-Production starts on “the hunt for gollum” says director /star andy serkis

"We've literally just finished a week. We're finally up and running, it's great."

The film serves as a prequel to the original "Lord of the Rings" trilogy and is reportedly set to follow Gandalf as he recruits Aragorn to help track down Gollum, according to the unnamed source. The mission involves determining whether the ring Bilbo Baggins took from Gollum during "The Hobbit" is indeed the One Ring of Sauron. Serkis is joined by longtime trilogy collaborators Peter Jackson, Fran Walsh, and Philippa Boyens, who are all involved in the production, as vgtimes.com noted.

vgtimes.comFilming Has Begun on The Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum — Gandalf and Frodo Are Back, But Aragorn Isn't the Same, and He's Already Won the Director's Praise

Warner Bros. shared a brief video capturing the first day of shooting, with Serkis both directing and starring, according to Deadline. The clip shows Serkis arriving on set in a motion-capture suit and transforming back into the character Gollum. While specific cast members for roles like Gandalf and Frodo have not been officially confirmed, vgtimes.com reported that the actors for Gandalf and Frodo are returning, though the article also noted that Aragorn "isn't the same" and that the actor has already won the director's praise.

DeadlineAndy Serkis Returns as Gollum in First Set Footage from The Hunt for Gollum

"The brief clip captures the first day of shooting with Serkis both directing and starring in the film."

As filming ramps up, fans of J.R.R. Tolkien's world can look forward to another journey into Middle-earth, with Serkis at the helm both in front of and behind the camera. The project continues the legacy of the original trilogy, bringing back key creative forces to explore a story that bridges "The Hobbit" and "The Lord of the Rings."