Anya Taylor-Joy has landed a major role in Peter Jackson's "The Hunt for Gollum" without yet cracking open J.R.R. Tolkien's source material. The actress revealed at Monday's Apple TV premiere that she plans to read the books imminently, despite growing up as a devoted "Harry Potter" fan rather than a Tolkien devotee.
Taylor-Joy's casting represents one of the most closely guarded secrets surrounding the "Lord of the Rings" prequel film, which Jackson is directing for New Line Cinema and Warner Bros. The Hunt for Gollum" explores the backstory of the creature and his relationship with Bilbo Baggins, drawing from "The Hobbit" and Tolkien's appendices. Production began in October 2024 in New Zealand.
Her admission tracks with how contemporary actors approach massive franchises. Many cast members receive scripts and character breakdowns before diving into the original source material, particularly when productions move at breakneck speed. The books remain foundational to understanding Tolkien's mythology, but the screenplay itself becomes the actor's bible on set.
Taylor-Joy's career momentum makes her a smart pick for a significant Tolkien role. She carries proven indie credibility from the "Queen's Gambit" phenomenon and mainstream appeal through franchises like "Mad Max: Fury Road" and the "Furiosa" spinoff. She'll join a legacy of actors who've inhabited Middle-earth, from Ian McKellen and Elijah Wood to Cate Blanchett and, recently, Morfydd Clark in "Rings of Power."
Jackson hasn't announced other cast members for "The Hunt for Gollum," which he returns to direct after a hiatus from the franchise following the "Hobbit" trilogy. His vision for this particular story likely emphasizes visual spectacle