THE LORD OF THE RINGS: THE HUNT FOR GOLLUM Reportedly Introduces New Female Character Seren

The Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum is digging into unexplored territory, and now we may finally know who its mysterious female lead is… or at least the name she’s going by.

For weeks, talk has been circulating that Anya Taylor-Joy, known for The New Mutants and Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga, was stepping into a major role in the film. When Warner Bros. unveiled part of the cast at CinemaCon, her name was noticeably missing.

Now insider Daniel Richtman claims the character she’s tied to is named Seren. That name doesn’t exist anywhere in the works of J. R. R. Tolkien, which strongly suggests this is a brand-new addition created specifically for The Hunt for Gollum.

Whether Taylor-Joy is attached remains unclear, and that could explain why she wasn’t officially announced with the rest of the ensemble.

Of course, fans are already doing what fans do best and connecting dots. A popular theory is that “Seren” could actually be a placeholder name for Arwen, the Half-elven daughter of Elrond, originally played by Liv Tyler in The Lord of the Rings trilogy.

If that turns out to be true, it would be a pretty big deal for fans who’ve been hoping to see more of that character’s story explored on the big screen.

This isn’t the only project keeping Middle-earth busy either. Over on another corner of the franchise, Stephen Colbert and his son Peter McGee are developing The Lord of the Rings: Shadows of the Past.

Colbert explained the scope of that story, saying, "It’s basically the chapter 'Three is Company' [Chapter III] through 'Fog on the Barrow-Downs' [Chapter VIII]."

Meanwhile, Prime Video’s The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Poweris still expected to run for five seasons, even as viewership has dipped since its debut.

Back to The Hunt for Gollum, the film is leaning heavily into familiar faces while bringing in new ones. Andy Serkis is back as Gollum and also directing, with Sir Ian McKellen, Elijah Wood, Lee Pace, Jamie Dornan, Leo Woodall, and Kate Winslet rounding out the cast.

Serkis previously teased, "Across two trilogies, a mark of a Middle-earth film, has always been the formidable array of talent brought to bear in every role.

“The Hunt for Gollum continues in that tradition, and I am delighted to announce the return of two of Middle-earth’s most beloved performers, alongside some exceptionally talented new additions to Tolkien’s world."

The synopsis reads: “Before the Fellowship, one creature’s obsession holds the key to Middle-earth’s survival — or its demise. In The Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum, we meet young Smeagol — an outsider drawn to trinkets and mischief — long before The One Ring consumed him and began his tragic descent into the tortured, deceitful creature Gollum.

“With the ring lost and carried away by Bilbo Baggins, Gollum finds himself compelled to leave his cave in search of it.

“Gandalf the Grey calls upon Aragorn, still known as the ranger Strider, to track the elusive creature whose knowledge of the whereabouts of the ring could tip the balance toward the Dark Lord Sauron.

“Set in the shadowed time between Bilbo’s birthday disappearance and the Fellowship’s formation, this perilous journey through Middle-earth’s darkest corners reveals untold truths, tests the resolve of its future king, and explores the fractured soul and backstory of Gollum, one of Tolkien’s most enigmatic characters.

“Directed by original cast member Andy Serkis, produced by Peter Jackson, and written & produced by Fran Walsh and Phillipa Boyens — the creative team behind the Oscar-winning trilogy — this live-action movie bridges the beloved films with new characters, returning heroes, and a deeply engaging origin story that resets the stage for, and changes everything you know about the legendary Lord of the Rings trilogy.”

With Peter Jackson producing and writers Philippa Boyens and Fran Walsh returning alongside Phoebe Gittins and Arty Papageorgiou, the creative team is strong.

The Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum is set to hit theaters on December 17, 2027. Between the mystery of Seren and the return to a fan-favorite corner of the lore, this one is already giving fans plenty to speculate about.