is going back to Middle-earth to play Gollum in two new films.
Warner Bros. Motion Picture Group鈥檚 Michael De Luca and Pam Abdy said Thursday that Fran Walsh and Philippa Boyens, the Oscar-winning team behind the 鈥淟ord of the Rings鈥� and 鈥淭he Hobbit鈥� trilogies, will produce and Serkis will direct.
鈥淵esssss, Precious,鈥� Serkis said in a statement. 鈥淭he 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鈥t鈥檚 just too delicious.鈥�
The working title is 鈥淟ord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum" and Walsh and Boyens are co-writing the screenplay. The collaboration between Warner Bros. and New Line Cinema is expected to be released in 2026.
The 鈥淟ord of the Rings鈥� and 鈥淭he Hobbit鈥� films have made nearly $6 billion combined at the box office. 鈥淭he Return of the King鈥� won a record 11 Oscars, including best director and best picture, tying 鈥淭itanic鈥� and 鈥淏en-Hur鈥� for most won.
De Luca and Abdy said in a statement that this team represents their commitment to excellence in further contributing to the cinematic history of the 鈥淟ord of the Rings.鈥�
Jackson, Walsh and Boyens, who consider themselves lifetime scholars of J.R.R. Tolkien's worlds, added that they were looking forward to traveling back to Middle-earth with Serkis, 鈥渨ho has unfinished business with that Stinker - Gollum!鈥�
The studio also has the animated fantasy 鈥淭he Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim鈥� arriving in theaters in December.
Lindsey Bahr, The Associated Press
