The timeline setting forThe Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollumhas been confirmed, but this is far more complicated after a major change Peter Jackson made to his film trilogy. While Jackson’sLord of the Ringsmovies are often celebrated as faithful adaptations, he wasn’t innocent of changing canon. The director made adjustments that allowed Tolkien’s beloved story to work for the screen, and for the most part, there were minimal consequences. However, there may be further issues now that Jackson and New Line Cinema are expanding the franchise.
The Hunt for Gollumwas confirmedearlier in 2024 and is one of a couple ofLord of the Ringsmovies currently in the works at Warner Bros and New Line Cinema. Andy Serkis, who played Gollum in Jackson’s movies, including theHobbittrilogy, will return to reprise his role as well as direct. Jackson is also tied to the project, this time as an executive producer. All this news makes the upcoming movie all the more exciting since these companies and minds madeJackson’sLord of the Ringsmoviesso exceptional. However,the movie’s place in the timeline may be a bit tricky.
Hunt for Gollum Is Set After Bilbo’s Birthday But Before Moria
Screenwriter Philippa Boyens Has Confirmed The Story’s Setting In The LOTR Timeline
Screenwriter Philippa Boyens is another familiar name working onHunt for Gollumsince she was among the writers for Jackson’s originalLord of the Ringstrilogy. Boyens has nothing but praise for the new project. She said it would be “quite an intense story,” set during “a specific chunk of incredible untold story.”
The Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollumis expected to release around 2026.
More specifically,Boyens revealed thatHunt for Gollumwould take place after Bilbo’s 111th birthday but before the Fellowship of the Ring’s adventure into Moria. This makes sense, considering the Tolkien story this movie will adapt. However, it’sa bit trickier considering the change Jackson made to this point in the timeline inThe Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring.
Peter Jackson Condensed This Point In The Timeline In His LOTR Movies
Decades Were Turned Into Weeks
The titleHunt for Gollumrefers to a time in which Gandalf instructed Aragorn to pursue and capture Gollum, who the Dark Lord Sauron was also seeking. It’s a pretty intense time for the creature since he wants nothing more than to reclaim his precious Ring while he himself is being hunted. Gandalf told Frodo all about this in theFellowship of the Ringbook, but this moment was cut from Jackson’s movie adaptation. The reason for this is that the director significantly condensed the timeline for this installment.
Since Jackson’s previous movies shortened this timeline, Hunt for Gollum will have to choose whether to conform to this shortened period or return to the canon version of the story.
In Jackson’sFellowship of the Ringmovie, the span between Bilbo’s birthday and Frodo’s departure from the Shire was a matter of weeks. However, in Tolkien’s book,Frodo didn’t set out with the One Ring until two decades after Bilbo’s memorable party. During these decades, Gollum was hunted, captured, and held prisoner by not only Aragorn and the Elves of Mirkwood but Sauron and the forces at Mordor as well. Since Jackson’s previous movies shortened this timeline,Hunt for Gollumwill have to choose whether to conform to this shortened period or return to the canon version of the story.
Other Ways Peter Jackson’s Lord Of The Rings Changes Will Impact Gollum’s Prequel Movie
Gollum Will Get Up Close & Personal With Sauron
This isn’t the only way in which Jackson’s newLord of the Ringsproject will have to choose between the director/producer’s previous work and Tolkien canon. TheLord of the Ringsmovies famously portrayed Sauron as a flaming eye atop the tower of Barad-dûr, andit’s specifically said in the films that the Dark Lord cannot yet take form without his One Ring. This wasn’t the case in Tolkien’s books. Sauron has a physical form by the start ofFellowship of the Ring, and this is important since Gollum is one of the few to see the Dark Lord in Tolkien’s trilogy.
If Serkis, Jackson, and Boyens hope to makeThe Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollumtrue to Tolkien’s work, then both the timeline and Sauron’s form will be restored. Of course, the new film could get away with finding some middle ground.The titular hunt for Gollum doesn’t necessarily need to span 20 years, but it would certainly need to be longer than the handful of weeks that pass between Bilbo’s birthday and Gollum finding the Fellowship in Moria. Sauron’s canon appearance can be restored in the coming movie, but the flaming eye can remain atop Barad-dûr. In the end, the answer may just be a compromise.
The Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum
Cast
The Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum is an upcoming fantasy adventure film that delves into the story of Gollum’s obsession with the One Ring.
