The recent buzz surrounding The Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum trailer, featuring Viggo Mortensen in the lead role, has fans wondering whether the movie is real or not. The trailer claims it will delve deeper into the enigmatic character of Gollum, exploring the events leading up to The Lord of the Rings.
Here’s everything you need to know about The Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum release date and whether the trailer circulating online is real or fake.
Is The Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum’s trailer real or fake?
No, The Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum trailer is fake and AI-generated.
On Sunday, February 9, 2025, a new trailer emerged online. The YouTube channel KH Studio, known for creating conceptual trailers, unveiled a fan-made trailer for a hypothetical The Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum film featuring Viggo Mortensen. Since its release, the video has accumulated more than 120,685 views and 888 likes at the time of this writing.
Check out the trailer below:
The trailer showcases AI-generated visuals combined with archival footage from The Lord of the Rings franchise to enhance its authenticity. It also employs AI technology to replicate Ian McKellen’s voice.
The trailer falsely claims that it is produced by Peter Jackson and directed by Andy Serkis, with Viggo Mortensen in the lead role. Additionally, this fan-made story delves deeper into Gollum’s character as a new adventure in Middle-earth unfolds. However, fans should remember that this trailer is purely a fan-made project.
When will The Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum come out?
The Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum is officially expected to be released in 2026.
Variety reported, and Warner Bros. confirmed, that The Hunt for Gollum will release in 2026. Andy Serkis will direct the film, while Peter Jackson, Fran Walsh, and Philippa Boyens lead production. Walsh, Boyens, Phoebe Gittins, and Arty Papageorgiou are currently developing the script, exploring untold stories within Middle-earth.
In a statement reported by The Guardian, Jackson, Walsh, and Boyens expressed their excitement, saying: “It is an honor and a privilege to travel back to Middle-earth with our good friend and collaborator, Andy Serkis, who has unfinished business with that stinker – Gollum!”
