The character Gollum from the 2012 moive The Hobbit - An Unexpected Journey. Photo: AFP / FILE
By Lisa Richwine for Reuters
A fresh instalment in the Lord of the Rings movie series, one of the biggest film franchises of all time, is scheduled to debut in theatres in 2026.
It is one of two new Lord of the Rings films announced by Warner Bros Discovery CEO David Zaslav on Thursday.
Andy Serkis will reprise his role as Gollum and will direct the first of the two films, which has a working title of Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum.
Andy Serkis. Photo: AFP
Peter Jackson, who directed the Lord of the Rings trilogy two decades ago followed by three Hobbit movies, will serve as a producer of the new films.
The movies are based on books written by JRR Tolkien and set in the fictional land of Middle-earth inhabited by humans, elves, dwarves, and hobbits.
The prior movies in the franchise have earned nearly $6 billion combined at global box offices. The 2003 movie, Return of the King, won 11 Oscars, including best picture.
A previously announced animated Lord of the Rings film, called The War of the Rohirrim, is set for release in theatres this December.
- Reuters