Lord of the Rings sequel movie announced by Peter Jackson | Films | Entertainment

Today, March 25, marks Tolkien Reading Day, as it’s the date that Frodo destroyed the One Ring.

And as part of the celebration, The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit trilogies director Peter Jackson has given a video update on The Hunt for Gollum.

Set during the early phases of The Fellowship of the Ring, Andy Serkis will not only be reprising Sméagol but also directing the spin-off.

If that wasn’t enough, Jackson has now announced the second Lord of the Rings film that is currently in development, titled Shadow of the Past.

Joining him on the video call was American Late Night Talk Show host and Tolkien nut Stephen Colbert who has co-written the upcoming film with his screenwriter son Peter McGee and Middle Earth movies scribe Philippa Boyens.

Shadow of the Past (which is the working title) will adapt Chapters 3 through 8 of the Fellowship of the Ring novel. However, it will be told from the perspective of the Hobbits over a decade after The Return of the King. The film’s official synopsis reads: “Fourteen years after the passing of Frodo, Sam, Merry and Pippin set out to retrace the first steps of their adventure. Meanwhile, Sam’s daughter, Elanor, has discovered a long-buried secret and is determined to uncover why the War of the Ring was very nearly lost before it even began.”

Given that Sam, Merry and Pippin will be older, it could mean that Sean Astin, Billy Boyd and Dominic Monaghan could potentially reprise their roles. And since Elijah Wood is back as Frodo in The Hunt for Gollum, presumably he may return in flashbacks too. As for what the chapters in the film contain, there’s all sorts of fantastical wonders. Chapter 6 features the Old Forest where the Hobbits are captured by Old Man Willow. Then in Chapter 7 they’re rescued by Tom Bombadil, one of the most ancient characters in Middle Earth, who the ring has no hold over. Rory Kinnear plays him in The Rings of Power prequel TV show.