The Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum, announced by Warner Bros. Discovery in May 2024, starring and directed by Andy Serkis, the man responsible for portraying Gollum in Peter Jackson’s LOTR, is in the early stages of development. With the positive reception of The Ring of Power’s second season, and the possible success of the animated feature The Lord Of The Rings: The War Of The Rohirrim, The Hunt For Gollum is at risk of becoming lifeless and redundant.
The Hunt For Gollum will likely focus on events just before Frodo embarks on his adventure with the One Ring, featured in The Lord Of The Rings trilogy. At Gandalf’s request, Aragorn will be sent to seek out Gollum before the creature can reveal the location of the One Ring to the Dark Lord Sauron. If this plot sounds familiar, it’s because it was already made into a fan fiction animation short in 2009 titled The Hunt For Gollum. However, beyond revisiting unofficial stories, the movie has other obstacles that may make it feel irrelevant in the franchise’s current climate.
The Hunt For Gollum Is Taking A Risk By Rehashing The Lord Of The Rings
Based on Tolkien’s Appendix in The Lord Of The Rings, the plot for The Lord Of The Rings: The Hunt For Gollum most likely follows Gandalf and Aragorn’s search for Gollum through the vales of Anduin, Mirkwood, Rhovanion, and Mordor, all settings extensively covered in the original LOTR films. With its probable retelling of the original The Hunt For Gollum, and its revisiting characters, cast members, settings, and plots, The Lord Of The Rings: The Hunt For Gollum runs the risk of becoming an unnecessary addition to Middle-earth that has already been told.
By rehashing several elements from The Lord Of The Rings, The Lord Of The Rings: The Hunt For Gollum is creating a work of nostalgia targeted more toward its original viewership than a growing audience interested in an expanding Middle-earth. This strategy may pay off financially, but artistically, it lacks the creativity and interest that Tolkien fans are becoming accustomed to – especially given where other franchise installments are heading.
The Rings Of Power Season 2’s Improvement Could Hurt The Hunt For Gollum
Momentum and praise for The Rings Of Power have increased from season 1 to season 2, with its more focused writing, expansion on the Sack of Eregion, and more complex character developments. The successful utilization of these elements in The Rings Of Power shows potential failings that could come to fruition in The Lord Of The Rings: The Hunt For Gollum.
The Rings Of Power has spent a lot of time in season 2 building on the groundwork set in season 1. Númenor’s politics and setting are being expanded, the Sack of Eregion is fleshed out for the first time, Adar turns out to be more than a power-hungry warmonger, Gandalf’s story comes into focus, Sauron shows a more relatable side, and Celebrimbor is becoming a complex fan favorite.
By successfully widening Middle-earth with previously unrealized settings and battles, and by creating and further developing its characters, The Rings Of Power has shown that its success and intrigue come from new and underdeveloped inspiration by Tolkien. The focus and expansion on these new elements and their increasing popularity with fans could be a sign of what is to come in the LOTR franchise and what could fail.
Rings Of Power & War Of The Rohirrim Could Increase The Demand For New LOTR Stories
With the success of new and untold story arcs in The Rings Of Power and the potential success of The War Of The Rohirrim, demand for untold stories and characters in the LOTR franchise could rapidly increase. Backtracking and content constructed through fandom nods will become more apparent and drop out of favor.
Material built by new creators featuring new characters is where the momentum of LOTR lies. The War Of The Rohirrim is a great example. Not only is a new medium being introduced into the franchise, but the film also explores a war 183 years before Peter Jackson’s The Fellowship Of The Ring, focusing on Helm Hammerhand’s unnamed daughter (designated Hèra for the film). Even the film’s writers, Phoebe Gittins and Arty Papageorgiou, are referred to as the “next generation” of writers for the franchise (Philippa Boyens, via Culture Slate).
If The War Of The Rohirrim becomes a hit (and it has all the ingredients to do just that), it will only add to the momentum that paints a bleak picture for The Lord Of The Rings: The Hunt For Gollum. Demand for new and expansive LOTR content is on the rise. With The Lord Of The Rings: The Hunt For Gollum revisiting old sites and characters, it is at risk of feeling unnecessary.
Source: Culture Slate