Lord of the Rings: Hunt for Gollum casts Kate Winslet in mystery role

Oscar-winner Kate Winslet will play a lead role in the upcoming movie The Hunt for Gollum. It marks her first step into Middle-earth and her first collaboration with Peter Jackson in 32 years; Winslet broke out in Jackson’s 1994 film Heavenly Creatures and most recently set records with her work on James Cameron’s Avatar sequels.

Jackson will produce the film while Andy Serkis is set to direct and will again play Gollum. Ian McKellen has signed on to return as Gandalf, and Elijah Wood has suggested he will appear as Frodo Baggins. Specific plotlines by original trilogy screenwriter Philippa Boyens remain under wraps.

If the film follows J.R.R. Tolkien’s texts and Christopher Tolkien’s Unfinished Tales, it would likely be set between The Hobbit and the Lord of the Rings trilogy and follow Aragorn as he hunts Gollum for answers about the missing ring, which would make Aragorn central to the story.

kate winslet, peter jackson, andy serkis, gollum, ian mckellen, elijah wood, aragorn, philippa boyens, middle-earth, unfinished tales