ALEX BROWN
Middle-earth’s new ranger got emotional. Jamie Dornan, who plays Strider in The Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum, says he broke down when he learned the part was his. “I cried. I actually cried,” the Northern Irish actor told Entertainment Tonight, as reported by The Hollywood Reporter. He also revealed he wrapped filming about three weeks ago. Andy Serkis’ film opens in theaters on December 17, 2027.
Who is Jamie Dornan playing in The Hunt for Gollum?
Dornan plays Strider, chief of the Dúnedain Rangers of the North, the man fans know will one day be crowned Aragorn, King of Gondor. Viggo Mortensen played the role in Peter Jackson’s Lord of the Rings trilogy. Warner Bros. confirmed Dornan’s casting at CinemaCon in April 2026, after Serkis said the role would be recast with a new actor.
The Fifty Shades and Belfast star has been open about the pressure. He told L’Officiel Italia that Aragorn will always be Viggo for him, and he described the casting to ET as a dream and an honor. Serkis has said this film catches the character at a stage when he would not yet think of himself as Aragorn.
What is The Hunt for Gollum about?
The film is set between The Hobbit and The Fellowship of the Ring. Drawn from J.R.R. Tolkien’s appendices, it follows Gandalf’s request that Aragorn use his tracking skills to find Gollum before Sauron’s servants learn where the One Ring went. Serkis has described it as a deep dive into Gollum’s psychology and history, paired with Gandalf’s urgent question about the ring Bilbo Baggins now carries.
The Hunt for Gollum cast
- Andy Serkis as Gollum / Sméagol (also directing)
- Jamie Dornan as Strider / Aragorn
- Ian McKellen as Gandalf
- Elijah Wood as Frodo Baggins
- Kate Winslet as Marigol
- Leo Woodall as Halvard, a fellow Dúnedain ranger
- Lee Pace as Thranduil, returning from The Hobbit
- Anya Taylor-Joy in an undisclosed role
McKellen has had a busy year: he is currently on screen as Jacob Marley in Ebenezer, which is heading for a No. 1 opening this weekend.
Filming update
Principal photography began in New Zealand in July 2026, returning the franchise to the country where Jackson shot both trilogies. With Dornan saying he wrapped roughly three weeks ago, the production now moves into a long post-production period, which makes sense for a film that relies heavily on Serkis’ performance-capture work as Gollum.
The Hunt for Gollum release date
Warner Bros. has dated the film for December 17, 2027, a classic Middle-earth December slot. No trailer has been released yet. Given the 2027 date, a first look could arrive sometime next year, possibly around CinemaCon or Comic-Con. Until then, Middle-earth fans have Prime Video’s The Rings of Power to tide them over, while sci-fi fans can look ahead to Blade Runner 2099 later this month.
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Sources: The Hollywood Reporter, Variety, Deadline, Yahoo Entertainment.