One Flight to Rule Them All: ‘Lord of the Rings’ Stars & Crew Reunite in the Sky
Middle-earth meets the friendly skies in a recent social media post that has sent fantasy fans into a frenzy. Actor Dominic Monaghan delighted fans by sharing a photo on his Instagram account capturing a casual reunion of several beloved cast and crew members on a commercial airline flight.
The heartwarming image was accompanied by a caption celebrating the legendary journey they all shared decades ago. Monaghan paired the snapshot with a direct nod to the franchise, writing, An epic #flyyoufools moment. See you at @fanexpodenver #becurious.
Elijah Wood flashes a wide, enthusiastic expression with his eyes popped open. Next to him, Dominic Monaghan leans into the frame with an energetic, wide-mouthed shout, leaning his shoulder against Wood.
The group was traveling together to attend Fan Expo Denver, a massive pop culture convention celebrating major entertainment franchises. This particular gathering marks a significant milestone as part of the ongoing celebration of the twenty-fifth anniversary of the film trilogy.
The event features a special reunion tour lineup that includes panels, photo opportunities, and even a themed breakfast event for dedicated fans. Attendees are treated to exclusive merchandise and retrospective discussions looking back at the cinematic achievement.
Dominic Monaghan, who originally portrayed the hobbit Meriadoc Merry Brandybuck, has kept busy with various creative endeavors since his time in Middle-earth. He recently collaborated with his co-star Billy Boyd on the travel and food podcast project titled Billy & Dom Eat the World.
Beyond his reality and hosting work, the actor has expanded his filmography with independent film projects like Long Shadows and Rajah. He is also scheduled to bring his fan-favorite status to specialized events, including an upcoming appearance on Comic Con: The Cruise.
The groundbreaking film trilogy, directed by Peter Jackson, originally starred an ensemble cast that launched many of its actors into global stardom. Alongside Monaghan, the films anchored their narrative around Elijah Wood as Frodo Baggins, Sean Astin as Samwise Gamgee, and Billy Boyd as Peregrin Pippin Took.
Peter Jackson revealed major new plans for the future of The Lord of the Rings franchise in 2026, including a brand-new film and potential adaptations of J.R.R. Tolkien’s other works.
In March, Jackson announced that a new Lord of the Rings movie was in development under the working title The Lord of the Rings: Shadow of the Past. The screenplay is being co-written by television host and longtime Tolkien fan Stephen Colbert, alongside Jackson’s son Peter McGee and screenwriter Philippa Boyens. According to Jackson, the film will be set several decades after the events of The Return of the King.
While the story takes place later in Middle-earth’s timeline, it will also explore events from parts of The Fellowship of the Ring that were not included in the original film trilogy. This approach is expected to expand on Tolkien’s world while revisiting characters and stories familiar to fans.
A few months later, during the 2026 Cannes Film Festival, Jackson shared another update about his ambitions for the franchise. He revealed that he had begun early development work on adapting additional Tolkien material for the big screen.
Among the works being considered are The Silmarillion and Unfinished Tales of Númenor and Middle-earth, two of Tolkien’s most expansive collections of stories and lore. Jackson acknowledged that Christopher Tolkien had previously opposed film adaptations of these writings. However, following Christopher Tolkien’s death in 2020, Jackson said he has been working closely with the Tolkien Estate on the possibility of bringing these stories to audiences.
Fans can also look forward to The Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum, an upcoming film from Warner Bros. through its New Line Cinema label. It is directed by Andy Serkis, with Peter Jackson, Fran Walsh, and Philippa Boyens serving as producers.
The project was initially expected to be released in 2026, but its schedule was later pushed back. According to Serkis, the film moved to a December 2027 release window. In May 2025, the official premiere date was confirmed as December 17, 2027.
The film is part of a continuing effort by Warner Bros. and New Line Cinema to expand stories within J.R.R. Tolkien’s Middle-earth universe. It centers on the character Gollum and is positioned as a major new entry in the franchise, bringing together key creative figures from the earlier Lord of the Rings film series.
Overall, the project remains in development but now has a fixed late-2027 release date after a delay from its original timeline.
Have something to add? Let us know in the comments!
