Middle-earth has been sitting in a weirdly fascinating place for a while now. It’s one of the most beloved fantasy worlds ever put on screen, but every new return to it comes with a slightly different kind of pressure. Fans don’t just want scale, spectacle, and familiar names. They want that feeling back. The Hunt for Gollum has already had people curious ever since it was announced, mostly because it promises to zero in on one of the strangest and most iconic figures in the entire Lord of the Rings saga. Now, the movie has taken a major step forward with its first cast reveal.
At CinemaCon 2026 in Las Vegas, The Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum has officially announced its first cast. Per the brief:
Andy Serkis returns to Middle-earth in The Hunt for Gollum, not only directing but also once again performing in the role of Gollum and his alter ego, Sméagol. Ian McKellen reprises his much-celebrated performance as the Wizard, Gandalf the Grey. Rounding out the returning cast are Lee Pace as the Elvenking, Thrandruil and Elijah Wood reprising his role as the beloved Hobbit, Frodo Baggins.
Leading the hunt across Middle-earth for Gollum is Jamie Dornan (Belfast, The Fall) stepping into the role of Strider, the chief of the Northern Dúnedain Rangers. Accompanying Strider on the dangerous hunt will be another of the Dúnedain, Halvard, played by Leo Woodall (The White Lotus).
The story delves into Gollum’s past – back in a time when he was known as a young Stoorish lad called Sméagol. One of the key players in the settlement of Stoors – a Hobbit-like folk – is the matriarch Marigol who will be played by Kate Winslet.
AMy heart swells — this is the work of my kin, and it belongs in my hands.
BExcited, but nervous. I’d rather it not cause trouble. Can I just leave it?
CMine. Obviously mine. Why is this even a question?
<buttonclass= " cq-option-btn "data-q= "4 "data-race= "elf "DBeautiful. Something this ancient deserves to be preserved and admired, not hoarded.
EA resource — and resources should serve those with the vision to use them.
<buttonclass="" cq-btn-secondary ""id="" next-4 ""disabled="" disabled ""onclick="" goTo(5 "")NEXT QUESTION →
05
How important is community and belonging to you?
No race of Middle-earth is truly alone — but some prefer it that way.
AEverything. My neighbours, my village, my people — they are the point of it all.
<buttonclass="" cq-option-btn ""data-q="" 5 ""data-race="" elf "BI cherish my kin deeply, but I feel connected to all living things, not just my own kind.
<buttonclass="" cq-option-btn ""data-q="" 5 ""data-race="" man "CI’ll protect my people with everything I have — but I don’t need anyone else’s approval.
<buttonclass="" cq-option-btn ""data-q="" 5 ""data-race="" dwarf "DI prefer a tight-knit clan bound by loyalty and shared toil over any grand fellowship.
<buttonclass="" cq-option-btn ""data-q="" 5 ""data-race="" orc "ECommunity is a pack. You’re either dominant or you’re used. I know which I prefer.
NEXT QUESTION →
06
How ambitious are you, honestly?
Ambition is neither virtue nor vice — it depends entirely on what you want.
<buttonclass="" cq-option-btn ""data-q="" 6 ""data-race="" man "ADeeply. I want to build something great, reclaim something lost, or leave a mark on history.
<buttonclass="" cq-option-btn ""data-q="" 6 ""data-race="" elf "BI seek mastery and perfection — not power over others but excellence in all I do.
<buttonclass="" cq-option-btn ""data-q"" 6""data-race"" hobbit "< option-button A long meal with good company…
What Else Is Happening With ‘Lord of the Rings’?
There was also the shock revelation recently that noted nerd Stephen Colbert would be penning his own take on the story, with a film set in some of the missing chapters of Fellowship of the Ring . In a conversation with Collider’s Steve Weintraub for his new film<em> Animal Farm </em>, Serkis was asked how long he had known that Colbert was going to be co-writing a<em> Lord of the Rings </em>script, and his answer made it sound like these developments had been on the cards for quite some time. “Obviously being here in New Zealand one gets to hear these things,” Serkis told Collider. “So I have known for a little while yes.. He’s a Tolkienista. He’s a proper Tolkienista. He’s been down here and won battles of knowledge wins with some of the filmmakers down here. So, he’s beloved and respected as a Tolkien nerd.
Warner Bros. shared a quote from Serkis along with the cast reveal: “Across two trilogies a mark of a Middle-earth film has always been the formidable array of talent brought to bear in every role.The Hunt for Gollum continues in that tradition and I am delighted to announce the return of two of Middle-earth’s most beloved performers alongside some exceptionally talented new additions to Tolkien’s world.”
The Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum arrives in theatres on December 17 2027 Stay tuned at Collider for more updates from CinemaCon.
