Kate Winslet has joined the cast of The Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum.
The Oscar-winning actress will play the female lead in the upcoming Lord of the Rings film directed by Andy Serkis, though details about her character remain under wraps.
The casting adds another major name to the growing lineup connected to the new Middle-earth project.
Kate Winslet Joins The Lord of the Rings
According to Deadline, Serkis and producer Peter Jackson spent much of last year convincing Winslet to take the role in The Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum.
The part is described as the female lead, but Warner Bros. has not revealed the character.
Winslet will reportedly move to New Zealand with her family for filming, which is scheduled to run from late May through October.
The actress has a history with the country and with Jackson. She previously filmed the 1994 drama Heavenly Creatures, directed by Jackson, in New Zealand early in her career.
Production and Release Details
Production on The Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum is gearing up to begin this year in New Zealand. Ian McKellen has confirmed he will return as Gandalf and said filming is expected to start in July.
Andy Serkis directs the film and returns as Gollum. The story is set between Bilbo’s birthday party and the Mines of Moria, focusing on events tied to Gollum during that period.
Peter Jackson, Fran Walsh, and Philippa Boyens — the team behind the original trilogy — are producing the new Lord of the Rings movie.
Warner Bros. has scheduled The Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum for release on December 17, 2027. The movie will be the first live-action Lord of the Rings film since 2014’s The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies.
Returning Cast
Ian McKellen has already confirmed he will reprise Gandalf. Elijah Wood has also hinted that he may return as Frodo, though his involvement has not yet been officially announced.
With Winslet now attached as the female lead, the cast for The Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum continues to take shape as production approaches.
