The Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum Stars Kate Winslet in Major Role

Titanic star Kate Winslet will play a major character in The Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum.

A report published today by Deadline described Winslet’s unannounced character as the film’s female lead, though exactly who she’s playing remains under wraps.

Winslet was apparently wooed into taking the role over the past year by The Hunt for Gollum director and star Andy Serkis, as well as The Lord of the Rings trilogy director Peter Jackson, who is serving as a producer this time around.

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Jackson and Winslet previously worked together in New Zealand years ago on 1994 movie Heavenly Creatures. This time around, it’s reported that Winslet plans to bring her family to New Zealand with her, for nearly six months of shooting set to take place this year between May and October.

Winslet’s role is the first new character announced to be joining the movie, following the previous confirmation that Ian McKellen was returning in his legendary role of Gandalf, while Elijah Wood has repeatedly hinted he is also back as Frodo. Indeed, earlier this week Wood said the movie felt like getting “the band back together” and that he didn’t want anyone else playing Frodo “as long as I’m alive and able.”

Set between The Hobbit and The Fellowship of the Ring, The Hunt for Gollum expands upon the brief scene in Fellowship where Gollum is seen being pressed for answers on the Ring’s whereabouts, as well as a brief story outline for the period from Middle-earth maestro J.R.R. Tolkien that mentions some of the other characters also searching for the famous ring of power.

It’s during this period that Sauron narrows his own search for the Ring, while both Gandalf and Aragorn race to track it down first. Exactly how all this will slot into Fellowship, whether Viggo Mortensen is also back as Aragorn, and how the movie will handle the fact that all of these actors are now 20 years older remains to be seen.

Indeed Legolas actor Orlando Bloom has previously expressed interest in an appearance, though suggested “AI would have to come into play.” As for Mortensen, the Aragorn actor has said he is also open to returning.

The Hunt for Gollum is set to launch in theaters on December 17, 2027.

Image credit: Max Mumby/Indigo/Getty Images

Tom Phillips is IGN’s News Editor. You can reach Tom at tom_phillips@ign.com or find him on Bluesky @tomphillipseg.bsky.social