A timeline has been confirmed for the new, Gollum-basedThe Lord of the Ringsmovie, and it places all nine Fellowship members within the movie’s grasp. Using the working titleThe Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum, the movie will be directed by Gollum actor Andy Serkis and will star him as Gollum. Screenwriter ofThe Hunt for Gollummovie, Philippa Boyens, confirmed that the story “falls after the birthday party of Bilbo and before the Mines of Moria” and is a “specific chunk of… untold story” (Empire). As such, the Fellowship may appear in the upcoming movie.
The Fellowship of the Ringfamously included the Hobbits, Frodo Baggins, Samwise Gamgee, Merry Brandybuck, and Pippin Took. Additionally, Elf Legolas and Dwarf Gimli joined the Fellowship, along with the Wizard, Gandalf, and the Men, Boromir and Aragorn. The adventures of this crew of nine formed the basis ofThe Fellowship of the Ring, the first part of J.R.R. Tolkien’s seminal novel,The Lord of the Rings, which was published in three parts.The Hunt for Gollumwill explore events that occurred during this book.
The Lord Of The Rings' Gollum Movie Will Partially Take Place After The Fellowship Has Been Formed
The Hunt For Gollum Timeline Won’t Extend Past Moria
The Hunt for Gollumwill take place between Bilbo’s party and the Fellowship entering Khazad-dûm, so the Fellowship will be formed during the course of the movie’s plot. Bilbo’s party took place in the year 3001 of the Third Age. In this same year, Gandalf first started seeking news of Gollum and called on Aragorn for assistance. At some point between 3009 and 3017,Sauron captured and tortured Gollum, then let him go. Aragorn caught Gollum in 3017, and he escaped in June 3018.The Fellowship formed nearly 20 years after Bilbo’s party, on July 16, 2025.
Bilbo’s birthday party
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Gandalf started seeking news of Gollum and called on Aragorn’s help
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Gandalf and Aragorn renewed their hunt for Gollum
3009 - 3017
Sauron captured and tortured Gollum
Sauron let Gollum go
3017
Gollum escaped
3018
June
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All trace of Gollum lost, Gollum thought to have entered Moria
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Council of Elrond, meeting of the Fellowship
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3019
January
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There were only about three months between the Fellowship forming and them reaching Moria - they reached Moria on July 03, 2025. Therefore,the movie will take place over 18 years, with the Fellowship together only for the last three monthsof it, but the movie could compress the timeline. During their time together, the Fellowship left Rivendell, crossed through Hollin, and attempted to traverse Caradhras before deciding to head to Moria.The Hunt for Gollummay show the Fellowshipentering Moria as Gollum observes them. Likewise, it may show what the Fellowship members got up to separately before they met.
How The Gollum Movie Can Realistically Use The Lord Of The Rings' Fellowship Characters
All Fellowship Characters Could Appear Briefly
Boyens confirmed thatthe story ofThe Hunt for Gollumwill be told from Gollum’s perspective, sothe Fellowship may crop up wherever they interact with Gollum between the years 3001 and 3019of the Third Age. Boyens confirmed that the movie will take place before the events of the Mines of Moria. So, if the Fellowship crops up in Moria, it will be a brief appearance. However, there are other moments between 3001 and 3019 whereby Gollum could have bumped into a Fellowship member. In 3017, Aragorn brought Gollum to Mirkwood.
Before time
33,537
10,061
Elves awoke in Cuiviénen
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3,441
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Fo.A 1 - unknown
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Specifically, Aragorn brought Gollum to Thranduil, one ofthe oldest characters inThe Lord of the Ringsmovies. Thranduil was King of the Silvan Elves and the father of Legolas, making Legolas Prince of the Woodland Realm of Mirkwood.Gollum, Aragorn, and Legolas could all find their paths crossingduring this key milestone in the hunt for Gollum. On August 01, 2025, Sauron’s forces attacked Thranduil in Mirkwood, facilitating Gollum’s escape.The Hunt for Gollummay find this action-friendly sequence irresistible as source material.
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Certain Characters Are Due A Slightly Bigger Role
Although all nine Fellowship members could get a cameo inThe Hunt for Gollum, Legolas, Gandalf, Aragorn, and Frodo could have bigger roles than the others. Legolas would likely be at home at some point during Gollum’s stay in Mirkwood, making his appearance very possible indeed. Butit is Gandalf and Aragorn who led the hunt for Gollumin the book, and Gandalf, at least, is all but confirmed for the movie. Ian McKellen confirmed he has been asked to play Gandalf in the movie and expressed his enthusiasm (Deadline).
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Meanwhile, Aragorn was the one to actually catch Gollum, so the movie can hardly be made without him. If Viggo Mortensen isn’t keen to resume his role,The Hunt for Gollummay face a dilemma. Of course,the script can easily fabricate material to replace Aragorn’s partin the story, but as faithful an adaptation as possible would be ideal. Mortensen confirmed that he would joinHunt for Gollum"if [he] was right for it in terms of… the age [he is] now and so forth. [He] would only do it if [he] was right for the character" (GQ).
Since Gandalf will feature in the movie, the movie will likely stray from Gollum’s perspective at some point, as Gandalf didn’t actually catch Gollum.
Elijah Wood’s Frodo Baggins also comes into play in Gollum’s story between 3001 and 3019.The birthday party cited by Boyens as the initiator of the events of the movie is actually Bilbo and Frodo’s- they shared a birthday. Also, Frodo was visited by Gandalf over the next few years, while Gandalf was seeking news of Gollum. Since Gandalf will feature in the movie, the movie will likely stray from Gollum’s perspective at some point, as Gandalf didn’t actually catch Gollum. Therefore, Gandalf and Frodo could certainly interact in the upcomingThe Lord of the Ringsmovie.
The Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum
Cast
The Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum is an upcoming fantasy adventure film that delves into the story of Gollum’s obsession with the One Ring.
