Leo Woodall Joins The Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum Cast

Actor Leo Woodall has expressed his excitement about joining the cast of The Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum, calling it a childhood dream. Confirmed to play Halvard, an original character, Woodall joins a star-studded cast including Jamie Dornan and Kate Winslet. The film is set for a 2027 release and will feature familiar faces from the franchise. Additionally, Stephen Colbert is working on a separate project inspired by Tolkien's work. Read on to discover more about this exciting new chapter in the iconic series.

By Narendra Chaudhary May 26, 2026, 19:57 IST

Excitement Surrounds Leo Woodall's Role in Iconic Franchise

Actor Leo Woodall has shared his enthusiasm about being cast in The Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum, describing it as a "dream come true" from his childhood to be part of such a legendary fantasy series.

Woodall, who was introduced as a cast member at CinemaCon in April alongside notable actors Jamie Dornan and Kate Winslet, discussed his excitement during the New York premiere of Tuner, where he stars with Dustin Hoffman. He expressed, "It means everything. It’s a dream I’ve had since I was a kid. I’ve watched it countless times, so being involved now is just amazing."

Although the 29-year-old actor kept details about the storyline under wraps, he confirmed his character, Halvard, is an original addition to the film and does not appear in J.R.R. Tolkien's original works.

The Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum is set to hit theaters in 2027, featuring returning stars Ian McKellen as Gandalf, Elijah Wood as Frodo Baggins, and Andy Serkis reprising his role as Gollum/Smeagol. Jamie Dornan will take on the role of Strider, also known as Aragorn, a character previously portrayed by Viggo Mortensen in the original trilogy. Kate Winslet will play a character named Marigold.

In addition, another project related to The Lord of the Rings is in the works. Former late-night host Stephen Colbert announced in March 2026 that he and his son, Peter Colbert, are developing a separate film inspired by chapters from The Fellowship of the Ring that were not included in the original adaptation.