The idea of Andy Serkis returning to play his iconic character inThe Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollumis certainly exciting, but I feel it’s a mistake to focus primarily on this titular character. This return to Middle-earth will be Serkis' first sinceThe Hobbitand should place his character, Gollum, in a far more prominent role. He isn’t the only one, however.Hunt for Gollumis expected to adapt a story mentioned in theFellowship of the Ringbook and should include characters like Gandalf, Aragorn, Legolas, and the Dark Lord Sauron as well.
Near the beginning ofThe Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring, Gandalf tells Frodo a brief story about howhe had instructed Aragorn to hunt down and capture Gollum. The Grey Wizard knew that Bilbo had gotten his golden ring from Gollum back during theevents ofThe Hobbitand needed the creature to confirm if this was actually Sauron’s One Ring. While Aragorn searched, the Dark Lord Sauron also looked for answers. It was a race against time, all the while Frodo kept the Ring in question at the Shire. This iswhenThe Hunt For Gollumwill be set—but Gollum himself can’t be the primary focus.
The Hunt For Gollum Should Be More About Aragorn & Gandalf Than Gollum
These Are The Characters Hunting For Gollum
I am as excited as anyone else to see Serkis return to play Gollum. However, when looking at the storyHunt for Gollumaims to tell, it’s apparent that he isn’t the only important character here. Gollum may be the pitiful creature everyone is racing to find, butthe true draw of the upcoming movie would be the characters conducting the search. This is a rare chance to see Gandalf and Aragorn’s partnership before the War of the Ring truly picks up, with Aragorn as a mysterious ranger and Gandalf only a wandering pilgrim. Theirs is the mission I’m truly eager to see inThe Hunt for Gollum.
Gandalf and Aragorn’s mission here is even more exciting when considering who they are competing against. Atthis point inThe Lord of the Rings, Sauron has regained significant influence. The Ringwraiths have regained their ability to take form, and various other villainous servants of Sauron are on the hunt for Gollum, just like Gandalf and Aragorn.What I’m eager to see inHunt for Gollumis a hunt that spans Middle-earth. Sure, there should be scenes done from Gollum’s perspective as he searches for his precious ring while avoiding Aragorn and Sauron, but the hunters are the true power players here.
Andy Serkis' Gollum Should Still Have An Expanded Arc From The Book
Gollum Is Key To The Overarching Story In Lord Of The Rings
We don’t know much about what Gollum was doing while Aragorn and Sauron hunted for him, aside from the fact that he had left his solitude in search of Bilbo Baggins and his precious Ring. For this reason,Hunt for Gollumcan do something truly valuable by exploring Gollum’s perspective. Though wretched by nature, Gollum is key to the Ring’s destruction inThe Lord of the Rings.
Tolkien noted that thegod of Middle-earth, Eru Iluvatar, used Gollum as an essential piece within destiny. TheupcomingLord of the Ringsmovie can demonstrate precisely how Gollum’s fate began. While the hunters should be the primary focus ofHunt for Gollum, the titular character is obviously everyone’s primary goal. Interestingly, both the forces of good and evil are successful at capturing Gollum in the story.
At one point, Aragorn travels to Mirkwood with Gollum, and I would be interested to see the dynamic between them during this journey.
At one point, Aragorn travels to Mirkwood with Gollum, and I would be interested to see the dynamic between them during this journey. Does Aragorn treat Gollum with kindness? He would surely be more merciful than Sauron, who also successfully captures and tortures Gollum.Serkis' character even gets an in-person look at Sauron’s true form, so his perspective inHunt for Gollumis highly valuable.
The Next LOTR Movie Centering Gandalf & Aragorn Will Only Work Under 1 Condition
Recasting Would Be A No-Go
While I’m eager to see Gandalf and Aragorn’s hunt for Gollum take center stage in the upcoming movie, I’m concerned that this won’t be possible. The only way these characters could take the primary roles isif they are played by Ian McKellen and Viggo Mortensen, neither of whom has been confirmed to return forThe Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum. Of course, Mortensen rejoiningJackson’sLord of the Ringsfranchisewould be complicated since it has been over 20 years since he first took up his role. Yet, his character is meant to be the same age.
The Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollumis still in early development, with an expected release near the end of 2026.
Mortensen’s Aragorn would have to be aged down using CGI inThe Hunt for Gollum, and that’s only if the actor agrees to return. Serkis may decide that recasting characters like Aragorn or Gandalf is a better bet—something I would be far less eager to see. If this is the route the upcoming movie is forced to take, then I would much prefer Gollum serve as the primary character. A slightly weighted balance between the hunters and the hunted would be ideal, but without the originalLord of the Ringsactors, we could settle for less.
