Such is the success of “The Lord of the Rings” that, more than 20 years after the release of Peter Jackson’s first film, fans are clamoring for more adaptations in the world of JRR Tolkien. This is how works like “The Rings of Power” or “The War of the Rohirrim” arrived.
However, not all titles related to this world were well received. “The Hunt for Gollum,” for example, was a source of controversy among fans.
Warner Bros. has announced The Hunt for Gollum, The Lord of the Rings.
On May 9, 2024, Warner Bros. has officially announced the development of a new film titled ‘The Hunt for Gollum’. The news came with few details: it is little known that Andy Serkis will reprise his role as Gollum while also directing the film.
As for the plot, it is only known that it will explore new stories from the universe created by JRR Tolkien, with an emphasis on that of Smeagol, from whom it takes its title.
However, the news was not completely accepted by the fans. Although it has the approval of Peter Jackson (who will produce the film), it turns out that “The Hunt for Gollum” is not entirely original: it has been around for 15 years.
‘The Hunt for Gollum’ already existed, it was a ‘fan film’
Shortly after the announcement, Warner Bros. reminded fans that “The Hunt for Gollum” already exists. It is a 2009 fan film directed by Chris Bouchard.
Over the course of 39 minutes (it’s a medium-length film), it tells how Gandalf orders Aragorn to find Gollum because he’s afraid he might give information about the One Ring’s whereabouts to Sauron. The script is based on the appendices of JRR Tolkien’s book The Lord of the Rings, which fans applauded for staying true to the original source.
Another of the achievements of “The Hunt for Gollum” is that it was created entirely by fans of “The Lord of the Rings”. They themselves were tasked with raising £3k (just under $4k at the current exchange rate) to finance the production, appearing as extras and more.
Over the years, the “fan film” has amassed nearly 14 million views on YouTube and has become a fan favorite. However, it has never monetized the content. Due to copyright issues, it is stated from the start that it is a fan-made product and that it is not intended to generate revenue.
However, on the same day that Warner Bros announced their own ‘The Hunt for Gollum’, Chris Bouchard’s film disappeared from YouTube. Instead, a legend appeared saying that the video infringed the producer’s rights.
This caused thousands of fans to express their disapproval of Warner Bros.’ move. found on the video platform.
However, many still have doubts about what direction Warner Bros. will take their new film, considering their previous work.
Did you know the story of ‘The Hunt for Gollum’? Write in the comments if you are interested in the new movie “The Lord of the Rings”.
Source: univision
Camila Luna is a writer at Gossipify, where she covers the latest movies and television series. With a passion for all things entertainment, Camila brings her unique perspective to her writing and offers readers an inside look at the industry. Camila is a graduate from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) with a degree in English and is also a avid movie watcher.
