The Hunt of Gollum, the film that Andy Serkis will direct and star in for Warner Bros in 2026 and that will serve to expand the Lord of the Rings films, has just confirmed Ian McKellen as Gandalf. The actor has not hesitated to say that he will continue with the character “as long as the legs, lungs, and mind keep working.” Alongside him, Aragorn’s return is also expected (although it is not known if it is with Viggo Mortensen).
We still don’t know much about the movie, but we know that it will not be a sequel (obviously) to The Lord of the Rings. But surprisingly, it’s not a prequel either. So when exactly do the events of The Hunt of Gollum take place? Let’s see.
Everything at once, everywhere
Following the timeline of the original Lord of the Rings trilogy, The Hunt of Gollum is also not necessarily considered a prequel. The film’s plot takes place during the events of The Fellowship of the Ring, specifically when Gandalf leaves the Shire to gather information about the One Ring. This sequence is quickly depicted in the film, with Gandalf heading to Minas Tirith, conducting research in the library, and returning without delay. However, in the original book, this investigation takes years, and during that time, Gandalf sends Aragorn on a secondary mission.
In the original books, the events that appear in the movie are only briefly mentioned, and it is not clearly specified that Gandalf goes to find Gollum; only Aragorn does. However, Gandalf’s implication connects this story more closely to The Fellowship of the Ring, as when Aragorn finally captures Gollum in the year 3017, Gandalf is busy studying Isildur’s scroll in Minas Tirith, as shown in the original movie. Presumably, this is what we will see in Andy Serkis’ upcoming film.
