Peter Jackson Working on Multiple New “Lord of the Rings” Films For Warner Bros.

We knew Peter Jackson was returning to Middle-earth, but we thought that return trip was limited to re-releasing his groundbreaking trilogy in new remastered and extended versions. Today, huge news broke—Warner Bros. CEO David Zaslav revealed that Jackson is really returning to the realms created by J.R.R. Tolkien for a series of new films.

On a Warner Bros. Discovery earnings call, Zaslav revealed that the company was in the early stages of script development for new Lord of the Rings movies, with a release date of 2026 in which new storylines, yet untold, will be explored.

There’s more—Zaslav revealed the first film, which will be a joint production between New Line Cinema and Warner Bros. Pictures, is currently titled Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum, with Andy Serkis set to both direct and star in the film.

As for Jackson, Zaslav said that he and his longtime collaborators Frank Walsh and Philippa Boyens will be deeply involved in every step of the process, with Boyens and Walsh writing the script for The Hunt for Gollum.

“It is an honor and a privilege to travel back to Middle-earth with our good friend and collaborator, Andy Serkis, who has unfinished business with that stinker — Gollum!” Jackson, Boyens, and Walsh said in a statement. “As lifelong fans of Professor Tolkien’s vast mythology, we are proud to be working with [WBD film chiefs] Mike De Luca, Pam Abdy, and the entire team at Warner Bros. on another epic adventure!”

“For over two decades, moviegoers have embraced the Lord of the Rings film trilogy because of the undeniable devotion Peter, Fran, and Philippa have shown towards protecting the legacy of Tolkien’s works and to ensure audiences could experience the incredible world he created in a way that honors his literary vision,” WB film chiefs De Luca and Abdy said a statement. “We are honored they have agreed to be our partners on these two new films. With Andy coming aboard to direct Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum (working title), we continue an important commitment to excellence that is a true hallmark of how we all want to venture ahead and further contribute to the Lord of the Rings cinematic history.”

Serkis got right back into Gollum mode with his statement.

“Yesssss, Precious. The time has come once more to venture into the unknown with my dear friends, the extraordinary and incomparable guardians of Middle-earth Peter, Fran and Philippa,” he said. “With Mike and Pam, and the Warner Bros team on the quest as well, alongside WETA and our filmmaking family in New Zealand, it’s just all too delicious… .”

Delicious indeed.

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Featured image: WELLINGTON, NEW ZEALAND – MARCH 15: Peter Jackson, New Zealand director of The Lord of the Rings trilogy poses with the props from the film set in his Wingnut Films office in Wellington New Zealand. Jackson has been nominated for best director at the 2002 Academy Awards and his film ‘The fellowship of the Ring’ has a further 12 nominations. (Photo by Robert Patterson/Getty Images)