New ‘Lord of the Rings’ film unveils cast, Dornan to play Strider

Warner Bros and New Line have officially revealed the cast for “The Lord of the Rings: The Hunt” for Gollum, ending months of speculation with a major announcement at CinemaCon.

Among the biggest reveals, Jamie Dornan will take on the role of Strider — also known as Aragorn — stepping into the iconic character previously portrayed by Viggo Mortensen in the original trilogy. Rising actor Leo Woodall joins the cast as Halvard, a fellow Dúnedain ranger accompanying Strider on a perilous mission.

The film will be directed by Andy Serkis, who also reprises his legendary role as Gollum, a character he first brought to life in the early 2000s trilogy directed by Peter Jackson.

Set between the events of “The Hobbit” and “The Lord of the Rings”, the story follows Aragorn and Gandalf as they search for Gollum to uncover crucial information about Bilbo’s ring — later revealed as the One Ring that threatens Middle-earth.

The film also sees the return of Ian McKellen as Gandalf and Elijah Wood as Frodo, while Kate Winslet joins the franchise in a new, undisclosed role. In a statement, Serkis said the film continues the franchise’s tradition of assembling “a formidable array of talent,” combining beloved returning actors with fresh faces.

“The Hunt for Gollum” is slated for theatrical release on December 17, 2027.

The announcement came during CinemaCon, the annual gathering of cinema owners and Hollywood studios held in Las Vegas from April 13–16.

Meanwhile, another film set in Middle-earth is already in development. Titled “The Lord of the Rings: Shadow of the Past”, the project is being written by Stephen Colbert alongside Philippa Boyens and Peter McGee, and is expected to follow “The Hunt for Gollum”.