New Lord of the Rings movie releasing in 2026

Last year, Warner Bros. Discovery revealed its collaboration with New Line Cinema to develop “multiple Lord of the Rings movies,” building upon Peter Jackson’s iconic trilogy based on J.R.R. Tolkien’s novels. Now, we have insight into when the first of these new cinematic adventures will likely grace theatres.

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During today’s earnings call, CEO David Zaslav unveiled that Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum is anticipated to premiere sometime in 2026, promising to “explore storylines yet to be told.” Andy Serkis, known for his portrayal of the enigmatic Gollum, will helm the film as director and reprise his role, while Jackson, Fran Walsh, and Philippa Boyens join as producers.

In a statement, Serkis echoed Gollum’s iconic hiss with a sly “yesssss, Precious,” and Jackson expressed gratitude, declaring it “an honour and a privilege to travel back to Middle-earth.”

As of now, no additional casting details have been unveiled, and WBD has remained tight-lipped about the film’s storyline. However, given its projected release date drawing nearer, it won’t be long before we receive further updates on the journey that lies ahead for the character formerly known as Sméagol.