Over two decades after The Lord of the Rings trilogy ended, Gollum will return to the Middle-earth in a new Gollum-centric movie, The Hunt for Gollum. The film will take fans back to the past and explore the life of Sméagol before the events of the main movie series.
The original trilogy’s director, Peter Jackson, will return as a producer for The Hunt for Gollum. At the same time, Andy Serkis will reprise his iconic role as Gollum and direct the film.
With the exciting return of Gollum, it’s not beyond the realm of possibility that some beloved characters from the original movies may also make a comeback, sparking a sense of nostalgia and connection among the audience.
So, who will join the hunt for Gollum? Here are the five characters who might embark on the search for Gollum in The Hunt for Gollum.
The Witch-king of Angmar
The Witch-king of Angmar, or Lord of the Nazgûl, was the leader of the Black Riders or simply The Nine.
He was Sauron’s deadliest vessel during Middle-earth's Second and Third Ages.
As Sauron’s man, the Witch-king is looking for the Ring to help solidify his Lord’s power, making him one of the possible hunters of Gollum.
If this happens, the main characters looking for Gollum and the Ring may end up in conflict with the Witch-king and the rest of the Nazgûl.
Galadriel
Galadriel, one of the greatest Elves in Middle-earth and the Lady of the Woods of Lothlórien has established herself as a formidable soldier looking for Sauron in The Lord of the Rings: Rings of Power.
With her fight against evil, she, too, may join the hunt for Gollum to find the Ring and stop Sauron from sowing great terror.
It’s also important to note that Galadriel and her husband, Elrond, are known for keeping the Elven Rings of Power. Thus, they play major roles in the search for the One Ring.
Sauron
As the main villain in Middle-earth, Sauron has every reason to hunt for Gollum and find his Ring. His Ring gives Gollum a long life and everything he cherishes.
If Sauron appears in The Hunt for Gollum, it will bridge the gap between the movie trilogies and the Prime Video series.
The orcs in Mordor torture Gollum for years due to his knowledge about the Ring.
Though the movie may introduce a new villain, it’s reasonable to think that Sauron may appear or be mentioned to emphasise his significance in the story.
Gandalf
Gandalf is one of the most important characters in The Hunt for Gollum.
The Wizard knows of Gollum’s existence, and the latter possesses the magical Ring long before Bilbo has it. His knowledge and wisdom help unite the free people of Middle-earth to fight and defeat Sauron.
Gandalf may do the same in the upcoming spinoff movie. He, too, may tell the story of how he recruits Aragorn to look for Gollum.
His sympathetic approach to Gollum may play out in the movie. After investigating Gollum’s history with the Ring, he tells Frodo to pity him instead of hating him, knowing what the Ring has done to him.
Aragorn
A 2009 fan-made movie based on the appendices of J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings tells the story of Aragorn, who follows Gandalf the Grey's order to look out for Gollum.
Independent Online Cinema posted the film on YouTube on May 9, 2009, and it has received almost 14 million views.
It was taken down following the announcement of Warner Bros.’s new The Lord of the Rings spinoff movie of the same title, though it was later made available again.
In the film, Gandalf fears Gollum may tell Sauron information about the One Ring, so he sends Aragorn on a quest to find Gollum. Therefore, aside from Gollum, Aragorn may be one of the main characters in the new movie.
Though details about the movie remain scarce, more will be revealed as its 2026 release window nears.
READ MORE: The Return of Aragorn, 5 Ways the Ranger Could Play a Key Role in The Hunt for Gollum