Anya Taylor-Joy joins new 'Lord of the Rings' film

Actress Anya Taylor-Joy is set to join the burgeoning "Lord of the Rings" cinematic universe, taking on a role in "The Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum." The film will be directed by and star Andy Serkis, who will return to portray the iconic character Gollum. Variety, a specialized media outlet, reported this development on Monday.

Fans can anticipate the return of beloved actors from the original franchise, including Ian McKellen as Gandalf, Elijah Wood as Frodo, and Lee Pace as King Thranduil. Joining Taylor-Joy in their "Lord of the Rings" debuts are Kate Winslet, Jamie Dornan, and Leo Woodall. Taylor-Joy, 30, is slated to play Sindar, a Wood Elf from the Woodland Realm, described as a trusted agent of King Thranduil.

The film, with a planned release date of December 17, 2027, will explore the events leading up to the first installment of the trilogy, "The Fellowship of the Ring." It will focus on the corrupted hobbit who lends his name to the movie's title. The original screenwriters of the trilogy, Fran Walsh and Philippa Boyens, are collaborating with Phoebe Gittins and Arty Papageorgiou to adapt the story from J.R.R. Tolkien's renowned work. Tolkien's "The Lord of the Rings" trilogy was published in the 1950s, following the success of "The Hobbit" in 1937.