Peter Jackson says he "didn't think much" of directing The Hunt for Gollum because Andy Serkis "knows the guy better than anyone"

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Lord of the Rings trilogy director Peter Jackson said it made the most sense for Andy Serkis to direct The Hunt for Gollum... and we absolutely get why.

"The film is about Gollum’s psychological and addiction," Jackson said during an on-stage Q&A at the Cannes film festival (via Variety). "I thought, ‘Andy knows this guy better than anybody.’ So I actually I didn’t think much of me [directing the new movie]. I thought the most exciting version of this movie is if Andy Serkis makes it."

The film was announced back in May 2024, with none other than Serkis set to reprise his role as Gollum... with many surprised to see him in the director's chair rather than Jackson. The Hunt for Gollum adapts the story of the same name that can be found in the appendices of the original Lord of the Rings novel. In the story, Gandalf the Grey fears that Gollum may divulge information about the One Ring to Sauron and sends Aragorn off on a quest to find him. Jackson is co-producing the film, which was co-written (among others) by Lord of the Rings veterans Fran Walsh and Philippa Boyens.

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Sir Ian McKellan is returning as Gandalf, with Elijah Wood also returning as Frodo, though Aragorn will now be played by actor Jamie Dornan. This is because of the timeline in which the story takes place, which calls for a much younger-looking Aragorn. And don't worry, Mortensen absolutely approves.

The Hunt for Gollum arrives on December 17, 2027. In the meantime, fill out your watchlist with our guide to all the most exciting upcoming movies of the year.

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Lauren MiliciSenior Entertainment Writer

Lauren Milici is a Senior Entertainment Writer for GamesRadar+ based in New York City. She previously reported on breaking news for The Independent's Indy100 and created TV and film listicles for Ranker. Her work has been published in Fandom, Nerdist, Paste Magazine, Vulture, PopSugar, Fangoria, and more.

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