Anya Taylor-Joy has joined the cast of the upcoming film “The Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum.”
The announcement was made by Warner Bros. on Monday, June 15, 2026, through social media. The studio released artwork featuring her character, Seren, a Sindar Elf of the Woodland Realm. Anya Taylor-Joy will play the new character in the highly anticipated prequel.
The casting continues the actress’s impressive rise in Hollywood. She first gained critical acclaim for her breakout role as Thomasin in “The Witch.” She later earned widespread praise and major awards for her performance as Beth Harmon in the Netflix miniseries “The Queen’s Gambit”. More recently, she starred as Furiosa in “Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga” and appeared in “Dune: Part Two.”
“The Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum” is set between The Hobbit trilogy and The Fellowship of the Ring. The story follows Aragorn and Gandalf as they hunt for Gollum to learn more about Bilbo’s ring, the One Ring that threatens the fate of all Middle-earth.
The film brings together a star-studded ensemble cast. It includes Ian McKellen as Gandalf, Elijah Wood as Frodo, Lee Pace as Thranduil, Kate Winslet as Marigol, Jamie Dornan as Strider (Aragorn), and Leo Woodall as Halvard. Andy Serkis is directing the film and will reprise his iconic role as Gollum.
The screenplay is written by franchise veterans Fran Walsh and Philippa Boyens, along with Phoebe Gittins and Arty Papageorgiou. Walsh and Boyens are also producing the film alongside Zane Weiner, Ken Kamins, Jonathan Cavendish, and Andy Serkis.
The Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum is scheduled to hit theatre’s on December 17, 2027.