Andy Serkis, the director behind the upcoming prequel movie The Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum, has shared a somewhat surprising update that proves viewers won't be getting the story they expected when Warner Bros. first announced the film. Serkis teased a Lord of the Rings title change, noting that "The Hunt for Gollum" likely won't stick around for much longer. Set to be produced by Peter Jackson, the visionary director behind the original Lord of the Rings trilogy, The Hunt for Gollum will also see Serkis reprising his iconic role as the Ring of Power-obsessed creature.

Thanks to the enduring power of Jackson's Lord of the Rings movies and J.R.R. Tolkien's books, fans want more stories set in Middle-earth. While Amazon Prime Video's The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power has been met with mixed reviews, other movie projects are in the works, including The Hunt for Gollum. It's hard to know if any of these upcoming projects will recapture lightning in a bottle; after all, Jackson's The Hobbit trilogy wasn't nearly as successful. However, Serkis' Gollum might have a real shot at launching a new age, so to speak.

The Lord Of The Rings' New Movie Doesn't Sound Like A "Hunt For Gollum"

Andy Serkis Has Revealed A Much Different Story For The LOTR Prequel

In addition to teasing a subtitle change, the project's director and star Andy Serkis has revealed that the movie's plot is much different from what "Hunt for Gollum" suggests. The announcement of The Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum prompted fans to wonder if Viggo Mortensen would return to LOTR as Aragorn and join Ian McKellen's Gandalf on a mission to find the titular ring-bearing creature, all while Sauron tries to hunt him down too. However, Serkis has talked at length about how The Hunt for Gollum will be a solo movie.

...if Serkis' vision for the project ends up being the final script, a title change is a must.

According to Serkis, the upcoming 2026 flick will be a kind of character study that delves into Gollum's psychology and backstory. In being told from Gollum's point of view — anchored by the corrupted creature — it seems pretty misleading to the title the film "The Hunt for Gollum." The subtitle is definitely eye-catching, and it reaffirms the new Lord of the Rings movie is a prequel. However, it really doesn't get the movie's core story across in a very effective manner. Needless to say, if Serkis' vision for the project ends up being the final script, a title change is a must.

Gollum's Lord Of The Rings Movie Will Likely Still Take Place During The "Hunt For Gollum"

The Hunt For Gollum Is A Particular Moment In The LOTR Canon

The "Hunt for Gollum" refers to a particular moment in Middle-earth's history and The Lord of the Rings' timeline in which Sauron is preparing his armies. Ready to unleash the orc masses upon the world, Sauron also knows the One Ring must be found. Although Gollum is no longer in possession of the all-powerful object, the creature holds crucial information about its whereabouts. Gandalf sends one of his own trusted allies, Aragorn, on a quest to find the creature. Taking place just shy of 20 years before LOTR begins, the Hunt for Gollum period will likely still serve as the setting for Serkis' movie.

What Gollum's Lord Of The Rings Movie Might Actually Be Called

Serkis' Movie Needs To Capture The Point Of View Of Its Protagonist

Since Andy Serkis' upcoming Lord of the Rings prequel movie will be told from Gollum's point of view, it should embrace the peculiar and distinct point of view of its title character. Although The Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum doesn't quite work, the movie could have fun with what viewers know about Gollum. Incorporating Gollum's former name, Sméagol, could be an effective way to tease the movie covering his origin story. On the other hand, it will be hard to resist the temptation to work Gollum's catchphrase — "My precious!" — into the movie's subtitle.