Smeagol (Andy Serkis) is expected to return to the big screen in 2026 and there will also be a reunion with Elven Lord Galadriel (Morfydd Clark). Images: New Line Cinema / Amazon Studios.
The Battle of Helm's Deep is over, but the Battle of Middle-earth is far from over. Even 70 years after the first Lord of the Rings volume and 23 years after Peter Jackson's first film, the world of the English writer JRR Tolkien still has tons of stories worth telling on the big screen.
One of them is The Battle of the Rohirrim
. The animated film by Japanese star director Kenji Kamiyama (Star Wars: Visions) was released in Europe cinemas a few days ago and also impressed our Tolkien expert Sören Diedrich – you can read why in his detailed film review.
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Lord of the Rings: First trailer for War of the Rohirrim shows how the eponymous war comes about
The last live-action film from the Tolkien universe, The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies
However, it is now 10 years old. But, as Galadriel would say, the world is changing and alongside Amazon's successful series implementation Rings of power
are currently still there Further projects from the LotR universe are being planned.
In our overview, we'll tell you which Lord of the Rings series and films you can look forward to in the next few years.
1. The Hunt for Gollum
Our favorite stinker Smeagol (Andy Serkis) is currently preparing his next big screen adventure.
Release: Probably 2026
The first upcoming Lord of the Rings project for which there is already concrete information and even an (unlikely) start date is a live-action film about the creature Gollum. At the beginning of 2024, the Warner Bros. studio announced that it was currently working on two new films from the Tolkien universe. The first of these projects has the working title The Hunt for Gollum
and will be directed by Gollum actor and motion capture expert Andy Serkis.
The film is said to revolve around an episode that is only briefly mentioned in the Tolkien books: Ranger Aragorn hunts for Gollum on behalf of Gandalf the Grey. Because the wizard wants to find out whether the mysterious ring that he found with Bilbo Baggins in the Shire is possibly the One Ring.
Gandalf and Aragorn discover that their secret is no longer safe in the Shire. Because the careless Bilbo revealed his name and place of residence to Gollum during a puzzle game together. And the greasy creep has the cues Auenland, Beutlin
now carried to Mordor.
According to initial information, the film will… tell the story from Gollum's perspectivewho is once again played by Andy Serkis. There are also well-known faces in the production team: New Zealander Peter Jackson will act as producer, and Fran Walsh and Philippa Boyens, the two screenwriters and producers of Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit, are also back on board.
There has recently been increased speculation about the return of Gandalf actor Ian McKellen; the Brit at least seems interested in the role. At 85, McKellen is no longer the youngest. And those responsible would also like to have Aragorn actor Viggo Mortensen back on board.
It will probably be a while before the film is released. When the project was first announced, Warner Bros. and New Line Cinema were still aiming for a theatrical release in 2026. However, since no filming has taken place by the end of 2024, this deadline is unlikely to be met.
2. New Lord of the Rings film from New Line Cinema
As much as we already know about the first planned Lord of the Rings film, we know so little about the ominous second one. From the one mentioned at the beginning Announcement of Hunt for Gollum Warner and New Line only say that a second film is in the works. And the Gandalf actor also recently confirmed that a second film was planned, in which Gandalf could possibly also be involved.
However, there is currently no concrete information about the plot or even a planned theatrical release. We therefore assume that this film is still in a very early concept phase and it will be a few years before we find out more about it.
3. The Rings of Power Season 3
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The Rings of Power: In the new trailer for season 2, Sauron starts a great war
The third season of Amazon's series should be much closer and more concrete The Rings of Power
be. Amazon has not yet officially confirmed its production, but due to the considerable viewership of the first and second seasons, it can be assumed that this step will follow soon. Our Tolkien expert Sören even writes that season 3 is as sure as the Amen in church
.
He suspects that Sauron will die in season 3 should lay the foundation stone for his fortress Barad-dûr in Mordor. Because after the events of season 2, the Elven empire of Eregion is destroyed. Sauron, whose sinister plans have come to fruition, has thrown off his disguise as the friendly Elven advisor Annatar and fled south.
In Season 3 we could now see how the nine human rings end up in the hands of their ultimate owners and how they become the feared Nazgûl (Ringwraiths). The forging of the One Ring could also finally be shown in season 3.
Of course, there is no concrete start date for the season yet due to the lack of an official announcement. But if season 3 follows a similar production schedule as its predecessor, then A release in late summer 2026 seems likely.
The rights to the Lord of the Rings video games currently lie with the Swedish company Embracer, or since its division with the subsidiary Middle-earth Enterprises.
The next upcoming video games from the Tolkien universe are Tales of the Shire, which is scheduled for release in March 2025, and a yet unnamed Lord of the Rings MMO that is being developed by Amazon Games. Nothing is known about its setting and plot yet.
