‘Outlander’ Star Sam Heughan Hints at a Middle-earth Role in ‘The Hunt for Gollum’ With a Very Telling New Zealand Remark

Some actors dream of joining a franchise, and then there is Sam Heughan, whose connection to Middle-earth started before he could act. His parents were such big fans of Tolkien that he was reportedly named after Samwise Gamgee, and his brother Cirdan was named after an elf from the books. Even their parents’ band had a Tolkien-flavored name, ‘Gandolf’s Garden’.

He has never hidden how much that world means to him. He has said he is still desperate to play an elf or a dwarf, and he once visited Wētā Workshop, where he was made up as a dwarf from ‘The Hobbit’ films. Peter Jackson also wrote the foreword for one of his books.

Now Heughan has fans reading between the lines. At the Wigtown Book Festival on October 4, a video captured him dodging questions about a possible role in Middle-earth. He said he couldn’t give away much, insisted the franchise isn’t exhausted and added that he may have been in New Zealand recently.

New Zealand is exactly where ‘The Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum‘ has been filming. Nothing about his comments is an official confirmation, but fans have already latched onto them. The timing and the location are hard to ignore.

The speculation didn’t start at the festival. On September 7, TheOneRing.net published a spy report claiming Heughan had been cast in a major role in the film, possibly under a name like Vidrick or Viddik. The site labeled it a spy report rather than an announcement, and the film’s makers haven’t commented.

Some fans have guessed he could be playing a Ranger, though that remains unconfirmed. Until Heughan, Warner Bros. or the filmmakers say otherwise, the safest word is reportedly. His own playful non-answer has only added fuel.

The film is directed by Andy Serkis, who also reprises his role as Gollum. Peter Jackson, Fran Walsh and Philippa Boyens are producing, and Walsh, Boyens, Phoebe Gittins and Arty Papageorgiou wrote the screenplay. Serkis has described it as a deep dive into Gollum’s character.

The announced cast includes Ian McKellen as Gandalf, Kate Winslet as Marigol, Jamie Dornan as Strider, Leo Woodall as Halvard, Lee Pace as Thranduil, Elijah Wood as Frodo and Anya Taylor-Joy as Seren. Heughan’s name isn’t on that list, which is why his comments have drawn so much attention.

Pre-production began in September 2025 in Wellington, New Zealand, where the earlier films were made, and several cast and crew members returned from the trilogies. Principal photography began in July 2026, with filming scheduled from July to October. The production is again working with Wētā Workshop and Wētā FX.

Warner Bros. also released a first look at the local set for Hobbit Day, showing the Shire coming back to life. That fits with Heughan’s remark about being in the country, since the production has been based there.

The film is set to hit theaters on December 17, 2027, and it is conceived as the first of 2 new Middle-earth films. With filming scheduled to wrap this month, the studio may begin sharing more details in the coming months. A casting announcement would likely settle the speculation around Heughan.

For now, the picture is a mix of reported leaks, a cheeky non-confirmation and a lifelong fan’s obvious enthusiasm. If the rumors are accurate, Heughan’s casting would be a fitting moment for an actor who has spent years hoping to enter Tolkien’s world. If not, it will still be remembered as one of the more entertaining teases of the year.

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