Andy Serkis calls the task of both starring in and directing The Hunt for Gollum “insane.” In an interview with The Times, he described how the demands of those two jobs follow him into the night.
“I’m waking up at night,” Serkis said. “Actually, I don’t know if I’m asleep or awake, but I think, Am I directing you Gollum? Or you me?”
Serkis will play Gollum at a younger age in this film. His performance and CGI-generated elements together create the character, who played a central role in the earlier movies. With acting and directing now both on his plate, Serkis wonders if the fan-favorite character will ever release its hold on him.
Serkis believes playing a character can change an actor. He explained to The Times: “you learn something either about yourself or the world that changes your worldview,” he said.
Set between The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring, the film follows Aragorn as a young ranger. His task is to capture Gollum so that Sauron won’t discover the Ring’s location.
The role of the younger Aragorn marks Jamie Dornan’s first appearance in Lord of the Rings. Aragorn’s age in the story means Viggo Mortensen won’t return to the role, including in flashbacks.
This is a fourth film nobody expected, and Serkis isn’t backing down from the challenge. It’ll show whether there are still stories worth telling about the Ring, and with Gollum front and center, it makes sense that Serkis is the one directing.
Returning alongside Serkis are Ian McKellen as Gandalf, Elijah Wood as Frodo and Lee Pace as King Thranduil. Additions to the cast include Kate Winslet as Marigol, Leo Woodall as Halvard and Anya Taylor-Joy as an elf.
The Hunt for Gollum is scheduled to reach theaters on December 17, 2027.
