Summary
The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Powerseason 2 has brought in a couple of new characters who perfectly set up the upcomingLord of the Ringsmovie. 2026 will see the release of the film temporarily titledLord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum, and despite being based on Tolkien’s works, it’s entirely unrelated to Prime Video’sThe Rings of Power. Both projects are being produced by different companies and are set at different points in Middle-earth history. However, the Second Age TV series' new characters have the power to add further context to the Third Age film.
Rings of Powerseason 2picks up more or less where season 1 left off and finally dives into Sauron’s creation of the titular Rings in the Second Age. Peter Jackson and Andy Serkis’Hunt for Gollum, on the other hand, will be set in the Third Age, in the years leading up toThe Lord of the Rings. As the title suggests, the story will follow Gollum, who, before meeting Frodo, was hunted by both Sauron and Aragorn to discover what he knew about the One Ring’s location. Clearly, these are two very different tales, butGollum’s race and that ofRings of Power’snew characters are a common denominator.
The Lord Of The Rings: The Hunt For Gollum - Confirmation & Everything We Know
J.R.R. Tolkien’s fantasy series The Lord of the Rings is returning to the big screen once again with a spinoff movie entitled The Hunt for Gollum.
The Rings Of Power’s Stoor Hobbits Perfectly Set Up The Hunt For Gollum In 2026
Rings Of Power Has Introduced The Ancestors Of Gollum’s People
As Harfoot Nori and the Stranger travel to Rhûn inThe Rings of Powerseason 2, they come across another breed of pre-Hobbits called the Stoors. Among these halflings are two new prominent characters,Gundabel (Tanya Moodie) and Marimac (Gavi Singh Chera). While these characters are Prime Video’s inventions, the Stoors themselves find their origins in theLord of the Ringscanon.Gollum himself had been a Stoorish Hobbit when his name was Sméagoland he found the One Ring. In this way,Rings of Powerprovides further context for Gollum’s family history.
The Stoors eventually migrated to the Shire and merged with the Harfoots and Fallohides, soRings of Power’s new characters may also be ancestors ofLord of the Rings’Shire Hobbits.
Gollum’s Connection To The Stoor Hobbits Explained
Gollum Was Originally A Stoor
Sméagol was born thousands of years after the events ofThe Rings of Powerwhen the Stoors lived in communities along the Anduin River in Middle-earth. Matriarchs traditionally led these pre-Hobbits, and during Sméagol’s time, he was the grandson of the Stoorish leader. His people were lovers of water and were known to be great swimmers, fishers, and sailors. It would have been a quaint life, but things quickly fell apart for Sméagol when he murdered his cousin to take possession of Sauron’s One Ring, ultimately leading him to be exiled and live for centuries in torment.
Though subtle, thisRings of Powerconnection can help audiences understand Hunt for Gollum’s titular character even more.
TheStoors ofThe Rings of Powerdiffer significantly from those Sméagol was born to, but there is still an evident connection here. In Prime Video’s version of the Second Age, Stoors live in the dry deserts of Rhûn, where water is scarce and therefore sacred. This explanation reveals why Gollum’s people had been so fascinated by water in the Third Age. Of course, this Stoorish quality lived on in Gollum even centuries later since he loved fish and was an excellent swimmer. Though subtle, thisRings of Powerconnection can help audiences understandHunt for Gollum’s titular character even more.
The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power
Cast
Set in the Second Age of Middle-earth, The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power explores the forging of the iconic rings, the rise of the Dark Lord Sauron, and the epic events leading up to the stories in J.R.R. Tolkien’s classic novels. The series chronicles the creation of legendary characters and the historic alliances and rivalries that shape the fate of Middle-earth.
