Frodo’s return in THE LORD OF THE RINGS: THE HUNT FOR GULLOM raises questions about chronology

Warner Bros. officially returns to Middle Earth with The Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollumand the project is already arousing enthusiasm and curiosity among fans. Andy Serkis is getting behind the camera to direct, with the film currently scheduled for release on December 17, 2027.

The story takes place during the events of The Fellowship of the Ringfocusing on Gandalf and Aragorn’s efforts to track down Gollum.

We’ve known this for a while Ian McKellen AND Viggo Mortensen they would like to return as Gandalf and Aragorn, but McKellen recently revealed something surprising… Frodo will also appear in the film. This raises a big question, because Frodo is not part of this story at all.

If Elijah Wood reprises his role, it would be difficult to see anyone else in Frodo’s shoes. However, his presence doesn’t immediately fit into the narrative. Producer and co-writer Filippa Boyens explained that the story takes place between Bilbo’s birthday party and the Company’s discovery of Gollum at the Mines of Moria. This is a time when Frodo is, for the most part, still in the Shire.

The easiest way to explain its inclusion would be as a framing device, similar to how Wood appeared The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey. A brief exchange with Gandalf before or after the wizard’s hunt for Gollum would give the audience context without changing Frodo’s established role in the original trilogy.

Frodo’s return also brings up the long-standing debate about the chronology between Tolkien’s books and Peter Jacksonthe films. In the novels, there are 17 years between Bilbo’s birthday party and Gandalf’s return to the Shire with the news of the Ring. On screen it seems like only a few months have passed, as none of the hobbits visibly age.

That discrepancy is now the focus of attention. If The Hunt for Gollum stays true to the book’s 17-year gap, it risks creating the feeling of missing years The Fellowship of the Ring which have never been recognized. But if it stays true to the compressed timeline of the films, then it must take into account that Gandalf and Aragorn follow Gollum across Middle-earth in a short space of time.

Bringing back Gandalf, Aragorn, and Frodo makes sense from a legacy perspective, but it also risks tinkering with films considered untouchable by many fans. Prequels and “story inserts” often flirt with retcons and continuity issues, and that’s exactly the challenge The Hunt for Gollum faces.

However, with Boyens involved, Peter Jackson as producer, and Serkis as director, there’s reason to believe the film will find the right balance. If handled carefully, Frodo’s role could add a layer of emotional resonance without disrupting the story we already know.

Middle-earth will return to theaters in 2027 and it will be interesting to see how the creative team handles all of this in the story.