Based on what’s been revealed so far, both upcoming Lord of the Rings projects seem to have some solid and intriguing potential with new untold chapters on screen and beloved returning characters. However, key narrative challenges remain for The Hunt for Gollum and now the newly announced Shadow of the Past.
The Lord Of The Rings Movies Have 2 Major Live-Action Movies Set To Release In The Franchise’s Future
The next chapter of Middle-earth will begin with 2027’s The Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum, a long-rumored project now officially moving forward. Set to star Andy Serkis as Gollum, who will also be directing, the film is expected to reveal Aragorn’s canonical hunt set between Bilbo’s birthday disappearance and the forming of the Fellowship several years later.
Ian McKellen is expected to return as Gandalf, as well as Elijah Wood as Frodo. While not featured in Peter Jackson’s original Fellowship of the Ring movie, Aragorn’s hunt plays a crucial role in the early war against Sauron, helping Gandalf uncover the truth about the One Ring.
Additionally, we’ve recently learned about a second Lord of the Rings project in development: The Lord of the Rings: Shadow of the Past. Reportedly written by Stephen Colbert and his son, Shadow of the Past is revealed to be set 14 years after Return of the King, with Sam, Merry, and Pippin retracing the steps of their journey when they all left The Shire with Frodo.
Likewise, Sam’s daughter Elanor will “discover a long-buried secret and is determined to uncover why the War of the Ring was very nearly lost before it even began.”
As such, it seems this future story set after Peter Jackson’s trilogy will largely serve as a framing device to tell the missing chapters from Tolkein’s original Fellowship novel that Jackson’s first movie didn’t adapt, featuring elements and characters including Tom Bombadil, Goldberry, and the Barrow-wights, making Shadow of the Past both a sequel to The Lord of the Rings trilogy and a retroactive expansion of the first movie.
Both Upcoming Lord Of The Rings Movies Have To Face The Franchise’s Trickiest Challenge
The shared foundation of both upcoming Lord of the Rings movies, covering events set during Fellowship of the Ring, is also where the biggest challenge lies. Just like The Two Towers and Return of the King, The Fellowship of the Ring is widely considered one of the greatest fantasy films ever made. As such, navigating and honoring that legacy will by no means be easy.
In Tolkien’s canon, nearly 17 years pass between Bilbo’s disappearance and the forming of the Fellowship in Rivendell. Such a large period of time has potential, particularly with its untold stories on-screen.
However, that doesn’t mean there isn’t some inherent risk when we’re dealing with the legacy of some truly beloved IP. Both of these upcoming movies will need to feel meaningful on their own to feel worthwhile, while also being respectful and honoring not only Fellowship, but honestly, the entire Lord of the Rings franchise overall.
If both upcoming projects can strike that necessary balance, they have the potential to expand Middle-earth in some pretty cool ways. However, that’s obviously much easier said than done.
The Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum is expected to release on December 17th, 2027. A release date for The Lord of the Rings: Shadow of the Past has not yet been confirmed.