The timeline for The Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum is made even better by one original trilogy scene. Updates about The Hunt for Gollum have been coming thick and fast in recent weeks. For instance, Ian McKellen recently confirmed the return of Gandalf and Frodo to Lord of the Rings via the 2027 film.

Of course, audiences knew Gandalf would appear in some capacity in the upcoming Lord of the Rings movie thanks to franchise veteran Philippa Boyens. Back when The Hunt for Gollum was announced in 2024, Boyens confirmed that the film would include Gandalf, as would a mysterious second idea for a new Lord of the Rings movie.

Beyond that, Boyens also revealed how the new movie would fit into Lord of the Rings’ expansive timeline. Boyens stated it would be nestled between Bilbo’s 111th birthday party and the Mines of Moria sequence from The Fellowship of the Ring. With this timeline in mind, one iconic Fellowship scene could become even better than it already was.

Gandalf & Frodo’s Gollum Conversation In Moria Is A Perfect Endpoint For The Hunt For Gollum

With Boyens’ comments in mind, it would make perfect sense for The Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum to end with Gandalf and Frodo’s conversation about Gollum in the Mines of Moria. This would fulfill the promise of Frodo’s return and the comments about the film’s timeline, all while making the scene even better than it was before.

This scene is the first time Gollum is teased in the Lord of the Rings trilogy, with his eyes watching the Fellowship and Gandalf telling Frodo he has been following them for days. Gandalf fills Frodo in on the sad backstory of Sméagol, before telling him that it was Bilbo’s pity that allowed Gollum to survive.

The Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum is expected to focus on, well, Gollum, with Serkis playing a big part as the creature. If the film tackles the theme of pitying Gollum as I am expecting it to, this scene would be the perfect endpoint for it.

In this scene, the perception of Gollum is changed. Frodo, as well as the audience, begins to see Gollum less as a villain that should be demonized and more as a tragic figure whose life has been ruled by the evil of the One Ring.

With The Hunt for Gollum undoubtedly set to explore the тιтular character’s psyche regarding the Ring, this scene between Gandalf and Frodo will be made all the more poignant. It could serve as a beautiful cap to a solid story about Gollum’s torment and be recontextualized in the eyes of audiences.

Moreover, it will allow The Hunt for Gollum to work as part of the original saga. Exploring Gollum’s story and ending it with a scene in which Gandalf changes Frodo’s mind about the creature, all while explaining that he thinks he has a part to play in the story, would make perfect sense for The Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum.