Production begins on new Lord of the Rings film

Production has officially begun on “The Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum,” with Warner Bros. releasing the first footage of Andy Serkis back in character as the ring-obsessed creature.

The brief behind-the-scenes video offers an early glimpse at Serkis on the film’s set as he sifts through the script and asks a nearby production assistant, “What are we gonna start with?”

“Uhh, Scene 1, the beginning,” he responds.

“That’s a very good place to start,” Serkis says.

Wearing a motion capture suit, he then lowers himself into a spider-like crouch, hunches his shoulders and curls his lips into the character’s famous feral snarl. “Action!” The teaser cuts to a cinematic drone shot of New Zealand’s craggy mountains, where production is currently underway.

Serkis is pulling double duty on “The Hunt for Gollum,” directing the movie in addition to reprising his performance as Gollum, also known as Sméagol. The film is scheduled to open in theaters on Dec. 17, 2027.

“The Hunt for Gollum” reunites Serkis with Peter Jackson, Fran Walsh and Philippa Boyens, the creative team behind the original “Lord of the Rings” and “Hobbit” trilogies. The standout ensemble also sees the return of Ian McKellen (as Gandalf), Elijah Wood (Frodo) and Lee Pace (King Thranduil), in addition to new cast members Kate Winslet (Marigol), Jamie Dornan (Strider), Leo Woodall (Halvard) and Anya Taylor-Joy as an elf.

“It couldn’t be better,” Serkis recently told Variety about reuniting with his Middle-earth family. “And it’s not just those guys who obviously I adore and love and have spent so many years working with, but the entire crew, practically from 25 years ago. So it’s great. And there are generations of their kids too. So it is a big family affair.”

-Variety