Peter Jackson announced at the 2024 Sitges Film Festival that The Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum is nearing the end of production. He also revealed a second project, The Shadow of the Past, and confirmed a completed script for a Tintin sequel.
Two weeks of shooting remain for The Hunt for Gollum
During the 2024 Sitges Film Festival, where Peter Jackson was honored with the 2026 Honorary Grand Prize, the filmmaker provided a precise update on his return to Middle-earth. According to the report, The Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum is currently filming in New Zealand, utilizing several iconic sets from the original trilogy. Peter Jackson noted that there are approximately two weeks of shooting left before the production wraps.
This return to the Shire marks a significant pivot for the franchise, which has expanded far beyond the original novels by J.R.R. Tolkien. By returning to the physical locations and sets of New Zealand, Warner Bros. is leaning into the visual continuity that defined the Oscar-winning trilogy of the early 2000s.
Andy Serkis transitions from Gollum to director
In a major shift for the production, The Hunt for Gollum will be directed by Andy Serkis. As the report says, Serkis is a franchise legend who first brought the character of Gollum to life through motion capture. In this new iteration, Serkis will maintain a dual role, serving as both the director and the lead actor reprising his role as the creature Gollum.
The production is also bringing back several pillars of the original cast to ensure authenticity. Sir Ian McKellen will return as Gandalf, Elijah Wood will once again play Frodo Baggins, and Lee Pace is set to reprise his role as King Thranduil. This blend of veteran leadership and original casting suggests a desire to anchor the new films in the established cinematic language of the first three movies.
The scriptwriting phase for The Shadow of the Past
Beyond the immediate production of the Gollum film, Peter Jackson revealed that a sequel titled The Shadow of the Past is currently in the scriptwriting stage. This development indicates that Warner Bros. is planning a multi-film arc rather than a standalone prequel, further cementing the Lord of the Rings brand as one of the most successful media empires globally.
This expansion follows a broader trend of "franchise mining" seen across the fantasy genre, where original trilogies are supplemented by prequels , animated features, and television series. However, the specific narrative placement of The Shadow of the Past remains unconfirmed. It is currently unclear how this film will intersect with the existing timeline of the Tolkien cinematic universe or if it will overlap with the events of the current TV series adaptations.
Anya Taylor-Joy and Kate Winslet join the Middle-earth roster
While the original cast provides the foundation, the new films are introducing high-profile talent to the ensemble. According to the source, new additions to the cast include Anya Taylor-Joy, Kate Winslet, Jamie Dornan, and Leo Woodall. Warner Bros. has already begun teasing this new era by sharing photos of the production, including updated looks for Elijah Wood's Frodo.
The inclusion of these actors raises several specific questions that the studio has yet to answer. Most notably, the report does not specify which characters Anya Taylor-Joy or Kate Winslet will portray, leaving fans to speculate whether they are playing established Tolkien characters or entirely new creations for the screen. Furthermore, the source does not clarify if these new actors will also appear in The Shadow of the Past or if their roles are exclusive to the Gollum narrative.
The Tintin 2 script as Jackson's immediate priority
Despite the momentum behind the Lord of the Rings projects, Peter Jackson clarified that his next immediate directorial effort will not be in Middle-earth. He confirmed that the script for the second Tintin film has already been written and that this project will be the next movie he makes.
This sequencing suggests a strategic balancing act for Peter Jackson, alternating between the massive scale of the Tolkien universe and the stylized animation of the Tintin series. for fans of the 2011 original, the confirmation of a completed script provides the first concrete evidence in years that the sequel is moving forward.
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