The Hunt for Gollum Will Feature De-Aged Lord of the Rings Characters

Get ready to see some beloved characters looking a bit younger in *The Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum*. Director Andy Serkis, who is also stepping back into the iconic role that made him a household name, has shared that de-aging technology will play a part in this new Middle-earth adventure. While he hasn’t revealed specific characters benefiting from this tech, there are a few strong candidates.

In a recent chat, Serkis mentioned, “There’s a little bit of de-aging for some of the characters and machine learning is part of the process.” He clarified that the film won’t utilize AI in any other capacity, indicating a departure from the ongoing debates surrounding generative AI in the arts. De-aging has been a tool in filmmaking for years, with its first major application seen in 2006’s *X-Men: The Last Stand*, where it was used to de-age Patrick Stewart and Ian McKellen.

This bit of history is relevant to *The Hunt for Gollum*, especially since McKellen has hinted at his return, confirming earlier this year that he will reprise his role as Gandalf. Elijah Wood, who portrayed Frodo Baggins, is also returning. Both actors are likely candidates for de-aging, particularly since the film is set during the same timeline as the first *Lord of the Rings* movie, likely covering the events between Bilbo’s 111th birthday and Gandalf’s return to the Shire.

In this installment, we can expect Gandalf to send Aragorn on a quest to track down Gollum. Jamie Dornan will take on the role of Aragorn, stepping in for Viggo Mortensen from the original trilogy. The supporting cast will feature Anya Taylor-Joy, Kate Winslet, Leo Woodall, and Lee Pace, who will reprise his role as Thranduil from *The Hobbit* trilogy.

While de-aging will be part of the film, Serkis emphasized his desire to “bring back all of the great filmmaking skills, from miniatures to prosthetics, and marry them up.” The original *Lord of the Rings* trilogy is renowned for its groundbreaking practical effects, and it’s exciting to see Serkis aiming to uphold that legacy in this new project.

*The Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum* is set to hit theaters on December 17, 2027.