Jackson's Lost LOTR Film Idea Mirrors New Gollum Movie
Nearly 25 years ago, Peter Jackson pitched an untold Middle-earth story that sounds remarkably similar to the upcoming Hunt for Gollum spin-off scheduled for 2027.
The upcoming Lord of the Rings spin-off focusing on Gollum will explore untold stories from Tolkien's appendices. But this concept isn't entirely new. Peter Jackson actually pitched a similar idea almost 25 years ago.
Fans recently discovered Jackson's commentary from The Fellowship of the Ring Extended Edition DVD. In those recordings, Jackson and writer Philippa Boyens discussed what they called "a film we'll never make."
The Original Pitch
"There's great stuff in the book that we just couldn't put into the movie, and I've just always loved that when Gandalf leaves Baggins he goes and joins up with Aragorn, and the two of them hunt Gollum down," Jackson explained in the commentary. "We've got this little remnant, which is Gollum being tortured, but we could never obviously do the bit where Aragorn and Gandalf track Gollum down. It's a neat idea, it would've been great to squeeze it in the film somehow."
Jackson and Boyens also referenced how this backstory connected to scenes they did film. They mentioned the reunion between Legolas and Aragorn, noting that the characters "know each other, because of the Gollum story."
More Untold Stories
Boyens suggested other potential storylines from Tolkien's work that could work on screen, including "Saruman's search for the ring." These side quests from the source material remain largely unexplored in Jackson's original trilogy.
The Hunt for Gollum will star Ian McKellen and Elijah Wood alongside Andy Serkis, who returns as both Gollum and director. Warner Bros. confirmed they'll recast Aragorn to match the prequel timeline. The film hits theaters December 17, 2027.
Director's Challenge
"It is a phenomenal challenge, exciting and of course terrifying at the same time," Serkis told Empire magazine about directing the project. "We have a very specific task ahead of us. A return to Middle-earth that satisfies the passion and the love that generations of Lord of the Rings fans have for these stories, whilst also presenting something completely fresh and new for first-timers to Middle-earth, with one of Tolkien's richest and most complex characters at its heart."