Filming Begins on The Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum, With First Look Video Showing Andy Serkis Back in Character

The Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum manager and prima Andy Serkis has released a video showing his instrumentality to Middle-earth, arsenic filming gets underway.

While not a afloat trailer, the behind-the-scenes video gives a peek astatine Serkis connected acceptable successful mo-cap gear, backmost successful quality arsenic Gollum. We besides get a glimpse astatine the production's New Zealand determination sprout — successful a spot that eagle-eyed fans whitethorn recognize.

"Here we go, onto the mocap signifier for time one," Serkis says, strolling into Weta's question seizure studio. "What are we going to commencement with?" After being told they're starting with country one, starring him, Serkis clambers connected apical of a adjacent container and assumes a Gollum-like pose.

"And... action," Serkis growls, instantly sounding similar Gollum again.

The video concludes with a drone changeable of determination filming successful the New Zealand mountains. While it's hard to marque retired immoderate details, the scenery successful wide whitethorn look acquainted — arsenic it's featured successful a circumstantial Lord of the Rings movie scene.

"For those who don't know, this filming determination is wherever Frodo & Sam are climbing up the stone look successful Two Towers opening scene... close earlier they conscionable Gollum!" noted Lord of the Rings instrumentality RRworkshopstudio connected YouTube. "I wonderment what they'll amusement this time!"

Finally, the video notes The Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum's December 17, 2027 merchandise day and a hidden connection written successful Middle-earth runes. According to aggregate fans connected societal media who person deciphered the text, it reads: "Something precious awaits," which sounds fitting.

The Hunt for Gollum volition reunite Serkis with his chap Lord of the Rings co-stars Ian McKellen arsenic Gandalf and Elijah Wood arsenic Frodo, portion Lee Pace is reprising his quality of elven king Thranduil from The Hobbit movie trilogy. New additions to the formed see Fifty Shades of Grey histrion Jamie Dornan, who takes implicit from Viggo Mortensen arsenic Aragorn, and The Super Mario Bros. Movie histrion Anya Taylor-Joy, who volition play a caller "lethal elf" named Seren. Earlier this week, Taylor-Joy revealed she hadn't work The Lord of the Rings yet, but would beryllium doing truthful soon.

Serkis deed the headlines this week erstwhile helium discussed The Hunt for Gollum's usage of AI to digitally de-age immoderate of The Lord of the Rings' aging stars, who volition request to look younger than they did 25 years agone successful Fellowship of the Ring. "There’s a small spot of de-aging for immoderate of the characters and instrumentality learning is portion of the process," Serkis said.

The Hunt for Gollum sees galore characters seeking Serkis' quality successful bid to observe the determination of the One Ring. This clip play is concisely shown during Fellowship's prologue, and covered conscionable arsenic concisely successful Tolkien's archetypal writings.

"I'm leaving him to it," The Lord of the Rings manager Peter Jackson said previously, regarding Serkis taking the helm. "I'm determination to assistance if I tin help, if I tin beryllium of assistance astatine definite times, I'm there. But I'm giving him arsenic overmuch state arsenic I can, due to the fact that giving Andy state to marque that movie volition effect successful the champion imaginable film."

Image credit: YouTube.

Tom Phillips is IGN's News Editor. You tin scope Tom astatine [email protected] oregon find him connected Bluesky @tomphillipseg.bsky.social