Trade reports this week confirm what’s been anticipated: The Hunt for Gollum is among the major studio shoots scaling up production logistics in the UK. While specific production details remain under wraps, the confirmation aligns with director Andy Serkis’s previously announced May 2026 filming start.
The UK production base represents a strategic choice for Warner Bros. and New Line Cinema. While Peter Jackson’s original Lord of the Rings trilogy filmed primarily in New Zealand, subsequent Middle-earth projects—including The Hobbit trilogy and Amazon’s The Rings of Power—have utilized UK and European studio facilities extensively.
For The Hunt for Gollum, the UK location may prove particularly fitting. Serkis has stated the film will prioritize practical effects and on-location filming traditions from the original trilogy. The story itself is set in the wilds of Middle-earth—the Dead Marshes, the borders of Mordor, and the dark eaves of Mirkwood. UK moorlands and ancient forests could serve these locations well without relying heavily on digital effects
As Serkis emphasized in previous interviews, the film will honor the craftsmanship of Jackson’s original trilogy: “We want to go back to that way of working—real locations, practical creatures, performance-driven storytelling.” The UK production infrastructure, with its deep bench of craftspeople and proximity to world-class studios, makes that vision achievable.
Warner Bros. has not yet announced specific UK studio partners or shooting locations. Expect more details as principal photography approaches this month.
