Kate Winslet has wrapped up her time in the Avatar universe, but is joining another franchise with close ties to New Zealand. The Oscar winner is in talks for Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum, which will go into production in the country this year.
Details of Winslet’s role were not disclosed. Andy Serkis is directing the film and reprising the role of Gollum, the tragic figure he originated in Peter Jackson’s Lord of the Rings trilogy in the early 2000s and which he reprised for The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey.
The Hunt for Gollum takes place between The Hobbit trilogy and The Lord of the Rings trilogy, with Aragorn and Gandalf searching for Gollum to learn more information about Bilbo’s ring, which turns out to be the One Ring that threatens all of Middle Earth during the events of Lord of the Rings.
Jackson is producing a pair of Gollum films along with LOTR mainstays Fran Walsh and Philippa Boyens. Zane Weiner is also producing. The feature has a Dec. 17, 2027 release date from Warner Bros.’ New Line division.
Ian McKellen is returning as Gandalf, while Elijah Wood has strongly hinted he will be back as Frodo.
Winslet is a seven-time Oscar nominee, winning 2009 for The Reader. She was last onscreen as Ronal in James Cameron’s $1.5 billion grosser Avatar: Fire and Ash, and directed last year’s family drama Goodbye June, written by her son, Joe Anders.
Winslet is repped by CAA and United Agents.
