Peter Jackson’s Forgotten Lord of the Rings Movie Resurfaces
Peter Jackson once considered a Lord of the Rings film focused on Aragorn and Gandalf’s hunt for Gollum—an idea now echoing in the upcoming spin-off, The Hunt for Gollum.
Long before The Hunt for Gollum was announced, Peter Jackson and screenwriter Philippa Boyens tossed around the idea of a Lord of the Rings film that would explore the untold adventures of Aragorn and Gandalf as they tracked down Gollum. This concept, which never made it past the brainstorming stage, is now coming to life in a new spin-off set to hit theaters in late 2027.
Fans recently rediscovered Jackson’s commentary from The Fellowship of the Ring’s Extended Edition DVD, where he reflects on the wealth of material in Tolkien’s appendices that didn’t make it into the original trilogy.
“There’s great stuff in the book that we just couldn’t put into the movie, and I’ve just always loved that when Gandalf leaves Baggins he goes and joins up with Aragorn, and the two of them hunt Gollum down,”
Jackson says.
“We’ve got this little remnant, which is Gollum being tortured, but we could never obviously do the bit where Aragorn and Gandalf track Gollum down. It’s a neat idea, it would’ve been great to squeeze it in the film somehow.”
Unseen Stories from Middle-earth
Jackson and Boyens also discussed how certain relationships in the films hint at these unseen adventures. For example, the reunion between Legolas and Aragorn in the trilogy subtly references their shared history involving Gollum. These hidden threads have always intrigued fans, fueling speculation about what else could be brought to the screen.
Boyens even mentioned other side stories from Tolkien’s world that would be exciting to adapt, such as Saruman’s quest for the One Ring. While those ideas remain on the shelf for now, the upcoming film promises to shine a light on one of the saga’s most mysterious chapters.
The Hunt for Gollum: A New Chapter
The Hunt for Gollum will feature returning stars Ian McKellen and Elijah Wood, with Andy Serkis not only reprising his role as Gollum but also stepping behind the camera as director. Warner Bros. has confirmed that Aragorn will be recast to fit the prequel timeline, presenting a unique challenge for the creative team.
Serkis described the project as both daunting and thrilling, saying,
“We have a very specific task ahead of us. A return to Middle-earth that satisfies the passion and the love that generations of Lord of the Rings fans have for these stories, whilst also presenting something completely fresh and new for first-timers to Middle-earth, with one of Tolkien’s richest and most complex characters at its heart.”
The film is scheduled for release on December 17, 2027, and aims to capture the spirit of Tolkien’s world while exploring new territory.