Warner Bros. is giving the world a very nice Christmas present in 2027: our Precious. The studio just announced that The Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum is coming to theaters December 17, 2027. Andy Serkis directs and stars, Peter Jackson and Fran Walsh produce, and Philippa Boyens produces and co-writes with Phoebe Gittins and Arty Papageorgiou. So yes, the gang behind the classic Middle-earth film series is basically all back.
The studio also made it official that a new Evil Dead movie is on the way. Souheila Yacoub will star and it’ll hit theaters next summer, on July 24, 2026. Sam Raimi and Bruce Campbell are among the film’s producers, and it’s rumored to be called Evil Dead Burn. Then, the next film from M. Night Shyamalan, Remain, based on a story he created with Nicholas Sparks, will open on October 23, 2026. Jake Gyllenhaal stars and the book version comes out October 7 of this year.
Release dates are always fun because it’s the public way of saying, “This movie is happening.” However, there are still some interesting questions surrounding all these films. For The Hunt for Gollum, we of course know Serkis will return as Gollum. But what about the supporting cast? A story about searching for the Ring Bearer would likely include many crucial characters such as Aragorn and Gandalf and while actors Viggo Mortensen and Ian McKellen have said they’d be interested, nothing is official yet. If they are part of the story and can’t come back, will you care if the roles are recast?
But also, that December release date is not just a nice vote of confidence in the film, but a continuing tradition. The original Rings films opened on December 19, 18, and 17 in their respective years so this really is, in a way, a return of the king. Disney also has that December 17, 2027 date earmarked for an untitled Star Wars movie, but Warner Bros. putting Lord of the Rings on that date surely doesn’t make it seem like there will be a Star Wars movie opening against it.
It’s also curious that the news didn’t include that Evil Dead title. Director Sébastien Vaniçek posted about it late last year, so is that no longer the case? Finally, will any among us dare to read the novelization of M. Night Shyamalan’s latest before it hits theaters a year later? Surely Nicholas Sparks fans will but, you have to imagine, Shyamalan fans will wait to see his take on the story.
Lots to discuss but, in the end, there are even more exciting genre movies coming in the next few years. What do you think?
Want more io9 news? Check out when to expect the latest Marvel, Star Wars, and Star Trek releases, what’s next for the DC Universe on film and TV, and everything you need to know about the future of Doctor Who.
English (US) ·