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Prepare to return to a familiar location in The Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum.
Directed by Andy Serkis, the upcoming installment in the beloved fantasy franchise marks a long-awaited return to the world of Middle-earth, 12 years after the conclusion of Peter Jackson's The Hobbit trilogy. The Hunt for Gollum filming is now confirmed to be underway in New Zealand, and a number of elements from Jackson's original Lord of the Rings trilogy are expected to return.
A new post from the official Hobbiton Movie Set Instagram account now confirms that The Hunt for Gollum will feature a return to the Shire. The post confirms that the Hobbiton set, which has remained a popular tourist destination in New Zealand since 2002, was closed recently as scenes for the upcoming Lord of the Rings movie were shot there. Check it out below:
"Eagle-eyed fans may have noticed that Hobbiton Movie Set was not open for visitors, well-wishers or distant relations last week… The rumours are true, we were catching up with very old friends and sharing our slice of The Shire with the production crew from The Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum," the caption reads.
It continues: "Our team had the privilege of supporting the production, with some of us even donning hairy feet as extras for some scenes!" The caption then mentions that the Hobbiton Movie Set will feature a special celebration to mark the 25th anniversary of the release of The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring, with tickets set to go on sale on July 23 at 10am NZST.
Built on a family-run farm about two hours outside of Auckland, the Hobbiton Movie Set appears as it did in Jackson's Lord of the Rings trilogy, and quickly became a hot destination for fans of the franchise. Jackson returned to film there when crafting his Hobbit trilogy in the early 2010s.
Jackson serves as a producer on The Hunt for Gollum, and all signs point to the upcoming film recreating his unique take on author J.R.R. Tolkien's Middle-earth. A teaser released last week confirming the start of filming featured Serkis in character as Gollum, in addition to the original trilogy's score and a dramatic New Zealand landscape, suggesting an attempt to recapture the magic of Jackson's original movies.
The Hunt for Gollum is expected to take place between the events of The Hobbit and The Fellowship of the Ring, following Aragorn as he attempts to find Gollum and keep him from revealing the location of the One Ring to Sauron. Viggo Mortensen memorably brought Aragorn to life in Jackson's original trilogy, but Jamie Dornan will be taking over the character for the upcoming installment.
Other returning stars include Elijah Wood as Frodo, Ian McKellen as Gandalf and Lee Pace as Thranduil. The Hunt for Gollum also features a number of exciting newcomers to the cast, including Anya Taylor-Joy as Seren, Kate Winslet as Marigol, and Leo Woodall as Halvard.
Scheduled to hit theaters on December 17, 2027, much remains unknown about The Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum and just how the film will differentiate itself from Jackson's trilogy. For now, though, the confirmation that filming took place in Hobbiton is further proof that the movie will feature a number of nostalgic elements.
