The Lord of the Rings 2026: Peter Jackson working on new film Lord of the Rings the Hunt for Gollum

Warner Bros have confirmed that a new Lord of the Rings film is in the works. Lord of The Rings: The Hunt for Gollum will see Andy Serkis reprise his role as well as direct the latest addition to the franchise alongside Peter Jackson, Fran Walsh and Philippa Boyens.

The project is currently in the "early stages of script development", and is expected to feature on Gollum and "explore storylines yet to be told". Warner Bros Discovery CEO David Zaslav confirmed the news during a call with investors on Thursday (May 9), much to the excitement of fans.

Serkis is best known for his ground breaking motion capture performance as Gollum in the original LOTR movie adaptations of JRR Tolkien’s books. His other noted roles include Caesar in the Planet Of The Apes films and Supreme Leader Snoke in the latest Star Wars films.

The last film in the Lord Of The Rings trilogy was released in 2003 and won 11 Oscars. Directed by Jackson, the franchise grossed nearly $3 billion worldwide, with sequels following including The Hobbit. Here’s everything you need to know about the new Lord of the Rings film.

What will the new Lord of the Rings film be about?

The new Lord of the Rings film will be called Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum, with Gollum actor Andy Serkis set to star and direct the picture. Warner Bros. Discovery CEO David Zaslav confirmed in a statement that director Peter Jackson, Fran Walsh and Philippa Boyens “will be involved every step of the way.”

Work on the project is currently in the early stages of script development, with the new film set to “explore storylines yet to be told.” In a statement, Jackson, Boyens and Walsh said: “It is an honour and a privilege to travel back to Middle-earth with our good friend and collaborator, Andy Serkis, who has unfinished business with that stinker — Gollum!”

Whilst Serkis added: “Yesssss, Precious. The time has come once more to venture into the unknown with my dear friends, the extraordinary and incomparable guardians of Middle Earth Peter, Fran and Philippa. With Mike and Pam, and the Warner Bros team on the quest as well, alongside WETA and our filmmaking family in New Zealand, it’s just all too delicious…”.

When is the release date for the new Lord of the Rings?

The new Lord of the Rings film is expected to be released sometime in 2026.

Sarah McCann is a Trends Writer for NationalWorld who specialises in stories around TV, Film and Health. If you liked this article you can follow Sarah on X (Twitter) here. You can also share your thoughts in the comment section below.