Ian McKellen sparked a wave of excitement and confusion among fans when, during his appearance on the British talk show The Morning, he hinted at the possibility that Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum might be two separate films. However, Philippa Boyens, a screenwriter who collaborated with Peter Jackson on the famed Lord of the Rings trilogy, has since clarified that The Hunt for Gollum is indeed a single film, while also sharing some intriguing information.
“I can confirm that it isn’t two films!” Boyens stated in a conversation with Empire Magazine. “This was a genuine misunderstanding. We’ve started conceptual work on two distinct live-action projects. The first is The Hunt for Gollum, while the details of the second one are still under wraps.”
Boyens is currently working on the screenplay for The Hunt for Gollum alongside Fran Walsh, Phoebe Gittins, and Arty Papageorgiou. She described the narrative as “quite an intense story” that takes place between Bilbo’s birthday party and the events in the Mines of Moria, highlighting a specific, engaging segment of the untold story from the perspective of this fascinating character.
Andy Serkis, who famously portrayed Gollum through motion capture, is slated to direct the film, and numerous actors, including McKellen, have expressed interest in reprising their roles if the story aligns with their characters.
Furthermore, Boyens mentioned that many of their potential future projects set in Middle-earth involve the gray wizard portrayed by McKellen. “We’re exploring a variety of concepts, but most of them center around Gandalf,” she explained. “So, there’s a strong possibility that Gandalf could return for two live-action films.”
The Hunt for Gollum is projected to release in late 2026.