'The Lord of the Rings: Hunt for Gollum' casts Kate Winslet in lead role and things just got interesting
Kate Winslet is trading the world of Pandora for Middle-earth. After her recent appearance in the epic fantasy franchise 'Avatar,' the Oscar-winning actress will next be seen in the upcoming 'The Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum' in a leading role, Deadline confirmed. Details about her role are being kept under wraps as of this writing. Andy Serkis is set to helm the movie, and its screenplay is written by Fran Walsh, Philippa Boyens, Arty Papageorgiou, and Phoebe Gittins. Serkis will also reprise his role as Gollum from the LOTR trilogy and 'The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey.' With her involvement in the title, Winslet will finally join the franchise after turning down the role of the sword-wielding Éowyn in the original series. The role was then played by Miranda Otto.
'The Hunt for Gollum' is set between the events of 'The Hobbit' trilogy and 'The Fellowship of the Ring,' the first film in the LOTR film series. The title will see Aragorn lead the quest to find Gollum before he reveals the One Ring's location to Sauron. Additionally, Aragorn and Gandalf will learn more about Bilbo’s ring and discover that it's the One Ring they need to destroy to protect Middle-earth from the evil influences of Sauron. Unlike other films in the franchise, its story is developed mostly from J.R.R. Tolkien’s footnotes rather than his original books. Furthermore, Ian McKellen and Elijah Wood will likely reprise their roles as Gandalf and Frodo, respectively, although this hasn't been officially announced yet. Both actors have shared that they would love to return to the beloved franchise.
While speaking to The Times earlier this week, Wood said that he cannot see anyone else taking on his role as long as he's "alive and able." The 86-year-old McKellen described the film's synopsis to The Times in February, calling it an "adventure story" that will see "Aragorn trying to find Gollum with Gandalf directing operations from the sidelines." Production will take place in New Zealand from May to October of this year. Winslet has a special connection to the country as she filmed her first movie there - Peter Jackson's 'Heavenly Creatures' (1994), years before he directed the 'Lord of the Rings' trilogy. Fans are now eager to see her in 'The Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum,' which is produced by Jackson alongside Walsh, Boyens, and Zane Weiner. The feature will hit theaters on December 17, 2027. So, mark your calendars!
