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Two of the more exciting young actors working in Hollywood may be teaming up for one of the most anticipated franchise films currently in development, as Leo Woodall and Anya Taylor-Joy are reportedly in talks to star as the male and female leads in The Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum. The film is set to be directed by Andy Serkis and produced by Peter Jackson, who directed the previous six LOTR movies.
Anya Taylor-Joy has been one of the breakout actresses of the 2020s with her roles in projects such as The Queen’s Gambit, Furiosa, The Menu, the Dune franchise, and more, while Leo Woodall broke out with his role in season two of The White Lotus and has since starred in projects such as Nuremberg, One Day, Vladimir, and the upcoming Anthony Bourdain biopic.
Anya Taylor-Joy and Leo Woodall are reportedly being eyed for the leads in Andy Serkis’The Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum
Now, according to reports, the pair are being eyed for the upcoming Lord of the Rings spin-off film from longtime Gollum actor Andy Serkis, which does not have an official release date at this time.
Leo Woodall and Anya Taylor-Joy are reportedly both in talks for the male and female lead roles for ‘THE LORD OF THE RINGS: THE HUNT FOR GOLLUM’
(via: @DanielRPK) pic.twitter.com/bbccQ0FDZM
— ScreenTime (@screentime) March 9, 2026
Back in March 2023, before Serkis’ was announced as the direct of The Hunt for Gollum, BroBible’s Post Credit Podcast was the first to ask Serkis about the new Lord of the Rings movies in development, with the actor and director poetically claiming that Middle-Earth “never left” him.
“[Producers] Peter Jackson, Fran Walsh, Philippa Boyens are sort of a second family that I have become part of and have gone on to make so many films with,” Serkissaid at the time.
“And — let me tell you — they are the best and most incredible people to work with. I think that there are so many other potential Middle-Earth projects which could come about, and if they’re doing them, I would, of course, jump at the chance to have that relationship rekindled … Middle-Earth has never left me.
Andy Serkis tells us why he would “jump at the chance” to return for more #LordOfTheRings films 🎙️ pic.twitter.com/8dxKgOOlpD
— Eric Italiano (@ericitaIiano) March 8, 2023
As mentioned above, while The Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum does not have an official release date, Warner Bros. — prior to its potential sale to either Paramount or Netflix — had set the film for release in 2027.