Director Peter Jackson said the upcoming film "The Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum" will draw inspiration from the tone of the movie Joker.
This shift toward a psychological character study marks a departure from the epic scale of the original trilogy. By focusing on the internal turmoil of a single antagonist, Jackson aims to explore the mental degradation and complexity of Gollum in a more intimate setting.
Jackson said the approach to the character was heavily influenced by the way Joaquin Phoenix portrayed the Joker. He said the psychological depth of that performance provided a useful model for portraying the inner mind of the creature. This focus allows the production to move beyond the external plot and delve into the character's fractured psyche.
"You have to get inside his head," Jackson said.
According to the director, the new project will be darker and more psychological than previous entries in the franchise. He said the film will mirror the style of Joker in its pursuit of a deeper character analysis. This direction suggests a narrative that prioritizes the mental state of the protagonist over traditional action sequences.
"Joker was a huge inspiration for how we approached Gollum’s character," Jackson said.
He further described the film as being "darker, more psychological — much like Joker," and said the goal is to capture the specific essence of the character's instability. By utilizing this framework, the film intends to map the descent and desperation of Gollum as he is pursued.
“"You have to get inside his head."”
By aligning 'The Hunt for Gollum' with the stylistic approach of 'Joker,' Jackson is signaling a transition from high-fantasy spectacle to a psychological thriller. This suggests the film will rely less on the wide-scale warfare of Middle-earth and more on the tension of a character study, potentially changing how the franchise handles its antagonists by centering the narrative on their mental instability.
