Andy Serkis Dons the Motion Capture Suit Again as 'The Hunt for Gollum' Starts Production

Production is officially underway on "The Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum," with Warner Bros. releasing the first behind-the-scenes footage of Andy Serkis returning as the iconic creature. According to Variety, the brief video shows Serkis in a motion capture suit on set, reviewing the script and preparing to film. The spinoff, directed by Serkis himself, is slated for a December 2027 theatrical release, as reported by Polygon.

Variety'Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum' Begins Production; First Set Footage Released

"puts a smile on the face of any Middle-earth fan"

GeekTyrant captured the mood of many longtime followers of the franchise, noting that seeing Serkis step back into the role after so many years feels surreal. The film marks Serkis's first time playing Gollum since 2013's "The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug," a gap of 14 years according to SuperHeroHype.

ComicBook reported that the upcoming movie is an interquel, set between the events of "The Hobbit" and "The Lord of the Rings" trilogy. It will explore the pursuit of Gollum during the original story, a narrative that was only hinted at in Peter Jackson's earlier films. This return to Middle-earth comes more than a decade after "The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies" seemed to conclude the film series.

The first look footage, while short, reaffirms Serkis's deep connection to the character he originated in Jackson's trilogy. Polygon confirmed that Serkis is both directing and starring, making this a deeply personal project for the actor. As production begins, fans can expect more details to emerge on how this spinoff will expand the lore of Middle-earth.