New Zealand is once again standing in for Middle-earth, with Warner Bros releasing a first look from the local set of The Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum.
The images, posted to the studio's TikTok page for Hobbit Day on Tuesday, show Hobbits in the Shire and director Andy Serkis working behind a camera.
Frodo Baggins, played by Elijah Wood, appears only from behind.
The prequel marks the latest Middle-earth production to film in New Zealand, following Sir Peter Jackson's Lord of the Rings and Hobbit trilogies. It is due for release on December 17, 2027.
Serkis, who played Gollum in both trilogies, is directing and returning to the role. Sir Peter will be the executive producer, saying "there's no one on this Earth better equipped to tackle Gollum's story than Andy".
Serkis told 1News in 2024 he was excited to reunite with the local crew he had worked with for years, and praised the storytelling approach of producers Sir Peter, Dame Fran Walsh and Philippa Boyens.
"I love the work ethos in New Zealand."
He is joined by Ian McKellen as Gandalf, Wood as Frodo and Lee Pace as elven king Thranduil.
Jamie Dornan replaces Viggo Mortensen as Aragorn, and Anya Taylor-Joy plays a new elf named Seren.
The New Zealand Film Commission said the production was expected to lift the local screen industry. It estimated international productions bring roughly $1.3 billion into the country each year.
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