New Reveal: Lord of the Rings – The Hunt For Gollum Avoids Major Rumored Mistake

Main Insights

“The Hunt for Gollum,”a fresh addition to the Lord of the Rings franchise, will be a standalone film rather than the two-part story previously speculated.
The narrative will explore a gripping storyline set between Bilbo’s farewell party and the events leading up to Moria.
There are exciting prospects regarding Gandalf’s return, along with the intriguing possibility of an anime adaptation.

Though The Lord of the Rings became a touchstone of the fantasy genre shortly after J.R.R. Tolkien’s original work was released, its widespread popularity didn’t truly take off until Peter Jackson unveiled his iconic film trilogy. This cinematic endeavor earned an impressive collection of accolades, culminating in a record-breaking 11 Oscars for the series’ final installment. Following this monumental success, aside from The Hobbit trilogy, Warner Bros. has remained relatively quiet regarding new projects. However, a recent announcement unveiled an array of upcoming ventures, the first being an adventurous tale centered on Gollum. Reactions to this news have been mixed; while some fans rejoice, others express apprehension regarding the project’s direction.

Despite potential skepticism surrounding the forthcoming films, one initial concern regarding the project has been clarified. Early rumors suggested that The Hunt for Gollum would be divided into two films, a belief fostered by Sir Ian McKellen’s comments about additional entries in the franchise. Thankfully, this misunderstanding has been cleared up. In a conversation with Empire, Philippa Boyens, screenwriter for the Lord of the Rings franchise, confirmed, “I can tell you definitively it isn’t two films! That was a genuine misunderstanding.” She elaborated that while they’re developing concepts for two distinct live-action films, The Hunt For Gollum is the sole project confirmed at this stage.

While speculation abounds about the mentioned second project, the focus remains on The Hunt for Gollum. As interest in LOTR content reaches a peak and both Warner Bros. Discovery and Amazon MGM Studios immerse themselves in the franchise, Boyens assures fans that this upcoming film promises a singular experience. “It’s quite an intense story, which falls after the birthday party of Bilbo and before the Mines Of Moria,” she further articulated, emphasizing the project’s significance. “It’s a specific chunk of incredible untold story, told through the perspective of this incredible creature.”

The idea of splitting The Hunt for Gollum into two separate films raised concerns among fans, who rightly pointed out possible pacing issues. With this clarification, one of the film’s major potential drawbacks has been resolved. Nevertheless, more questions remain on the horizon. Regarding the potential second film mentioned, numerous returning cast members (beyond Hugo Weaving) are open to reprising their roles, suggesting ample adaptation opportunities for feature films. Furthermore, Boyens hinted at options involving Gandalf’s character, stating, “We’re playing around with a number of ideas, but most of those ideas do include Gandalf.” Additionally, she discussed the possibility of creating another anime project as a sequel to The War Of The Rohirrim, saying, “We have an absolute banger of a second film that would just be incredible as an anime. But let’s see if there’s an appetite for it.”

With The Hunt for Gollum confirmed as a singular film featuring a unique narrative, discussions can shift back towards its potential merits. Notably, no new LOTR project has successfully recaptured the allure of Jackson’s original trilogy, not even The Hobbit films that followed. While confidence in The Hunt for Gollum delivering that elusive magic is low, it’s important for fans to approach it with an open mind given the current developments.

The Lord of the Rings series is highly accessible for streaming on Max.

Source: Empire

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