The Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum shares Hobbit Day set photos with Frodo

The film is currently being shot in New Zealand. Its current release date is set for 17 December 2027.

The images were posted via Warner Bros.’ TikTok channel. That gave the production a new official update on Hobbit Day, although not every casting detail has been confirmed directly by the studio.

What happened

Warner Bros. published set photos from The Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum on its TikTok channel to mark Hobbit Day. In the shared images, reports say fans get a first look at Frodo and the Shire. The photos are one of the clearest official updates on the film since production came into view.

The images are also said to show Andy Serkis working on set with a camera. That lines up with earlier reports that Serkis is involved not only as an actor, but also behind the scenes in the production. The mix of a set photo and a production image makes the Hobbit Day post especially interesting for fans who have been waiting for concrete information about the film.

The movie is currently being filmed in New Zealand. Its release date is currently listed as 17 December 2027. That is the date being used in reports, though for now it remains a planned release rather than a final guarantee.

The same reporting also says Elijah Wood is returning as Frodo Baggins. In addition, names such as Ian McKellen, Lee Pace, Jamie Dornan and Anya Taylor-Joy have been linked to the film, but not all of those casting details have been explicitly confirmed by Warner Bros. itself. That means it is still important to separate what is visible in the set images from what is being mentioned in additional reports.

Background

The Hunt for Gollum is a new Lord of the Rings film with Andy Serkis playing a central role in the production. Reports also say Elijah Wood is returning as Frodo Baggins, but the studio has not confirmed every casting detail in full. As a result, part of the cast remains dependent on reporting outside the official set photos.

The film has long been the subject of speculation about returning characters and possible digital de-aging. The source refers to an earlier discussion by Serkis about AI and digitally making older actors from the franchise look younger. That topic remains relevant because the new set images again raise questions about how familiar characters will be presented in the film.

Other actors are also being mentioned in reports. Lee Pace is said to be returning as Thranduil, while Jamie Dornan is linked to Aragorn and Anya Taylor-Joy to a new character named Seren. However, those details have not all been presented as hard studio announcements, so for now they should be treated as reported information.

Warner Bros.’ Hobbit Day post is therefore mainly important because it offers a rare official look at the production. The combination of Frodo, the Shire and Serkis on set makes it clear the film is taking shape, while the 17 December 2027 release date remains the one currently being used in reports.