The casting for the new Middle-earth prequel, directed by none other than Gollum himself, Andy Serkis, has reportedly expanded to include two new actors.
One of the most anticipated movies of 2027 is the return of The Lord of the Rings. The new film in the series, titled The Hunt for Gollum, is hitting theaters next Christmas. While some familiar faces will return, there are reports from pre-production about new cast members, with two names currently being tossed around. But remember, nothing’s been confirmed, so take this with a grain of salt.
First up is Leo Woodall, known for his role in Bridget Jones: Mad About The Boy and the series The White Lotus. According to SciFiNow, he’s reportedly in talks to portray a younger version of Aragorn, replacing Viggo Mortensen, who declined to return. Plus, given the film is set 20 years before The Fellowship of the Ring, Viggo, who's 67 now, might not fit the part as well as he used to.
The same source also mentions Anya Taylor-Joy is eyeing a role in the film. There are two major female roles – one older and one younger. She might play either Sméagol’s mom or a younger version of Arwen, who was originally played by Liv Tyler. But again, none of this is set in stone. It's worth noting that Kate Winslet has officially accepted a leading role. Rumor has it she might play Sméagol’s grandmother, the clan matriarch.
If this duo joins the cast, they’ll be alongside returning stars like Sir Ian McKellen as Gandalf, Elijah Wood as Frodo, and Andy Serkis, who not only stars in the title role but is also directing the project. The screenplay is written by original writers Philippa Boyens and Fran Walsh with Phoebe Gitten and Arty Papageorgiou, and the producers are Boyens, Walsh, and the original director Peter Jackson.
The Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum is set to hit theaters on December 17, 2027.
