Anya Taylor-Joy is finally stepping into Middle-earth, but the actress admits it took her years to fully embrace the world she is now becoming a part of. Long before landing a major role in The Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum, she considered herself firmly on one side of a fictional rivalry that existed only in her own mind. Now, as she prepares to play a new Elf in the upcoming fantasy epic, she’s making up for lost time by diving into J.R.R. Tolkien’s legendary novels.
Speaking at the premiere of Apple TV+’s Lucky, Taylor-Joy shared that joining one of cinema’s most beloved franchises has inspired her to finally experience the original books. The actress reflected on how her childhood perception of fantasy stories has completely changed over the years.
Anya Taylor-Joy says she chose Harry Potter as a child
During her conversation with Variety, Taylor-Joy revealed that she had convinced herself growing up that fans had to choose between Harry Potter and The Lord of the Rings. Looking back, she laughed at the idea and admitted nobody had ever told her that such a choice existed. It was simply something she believed as a child before eventually discovering she could appreciate both franchises.
“I’m about to read the books now, actually. So as a child, I had a misguided idea that you could only be a ‘Harry Potter’ fan or a ‘Lord of the Rings’ fan. Nobody told me that. I just came up with that on my own. Luckily, throughout COVID, I then watched all of ‘Lord of the Rings,’ and turns out you can love both, and you should.”
Her comments quickly resonated with fans online, many of whom admitted they once viewed the two fantasy worlds as rivals. Today, both franchises continue to attract generations of viewers, making Taylor-Joy’s story a relatable one for longtime fantasy lovers.
Why The Hunt for Gollum role excites her
Taylor-Joy also spoke about the excitement of becoming part of the Lord of the Rings universe, saying the opportunity feels like a dream come true. Rather than hiding her enthusiasm, the actress embraced the idea of playing a fierce Elf and joked about the legacy she hopes to leave behind.
“It’s so fun. I mean, if my tombstone can say ‘Lethal Elf,’ I feel like I did a good job on this planet. So yeah, I’m excited.”
The actress will portray Seren, a Sindar Elf from the Woodland Realm. The character is described as a trusted and deadly agent serving King Thranduil, placing her among the kingdom’s elite protectors. While Seren is a new addition created for the upcoming film, her role is expected to expand the Woodland Realm’s story during a period that has received limited screen time in previous Lord of the Rings adaptations.
What to expect from The Hunt for Gollum
Directed by Andy Serkis, who is once again returning as Gollum, The Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum explores events that take place between The Hobbit and The Fellowship of the Ring. The story follows Aragorn during his mission to track down Gollum before the creature’s knowledge about the One Ring reaches dangerous hands. The film continues Warner Bros.’ effort to revisit Tolkien’s world with stories set within the established timeline rather than direct remakes of the original trilogy.
Taylor-Joy joins an impressive ensemble that includes fellow franchise newcomers Kate Winslet, Leo Woodall and Jamie Dornan. Dornan has been cast as Aragorn, taking over the iconic role previously played by Viggo Mortensen. Returning cast members include Ian McKellen as Gandalf, Elijah Wood as Frodo and Lee Pace as King Thranduil, bringing familiar faces back to Middle-earth alongside a new generation of characters.
Although Jamie Dornan is replacing Viggo Mortensen as Aragorn, Andy Serkis recently addressed the casting during an appearance on the Happy, Sad, Confused podcast. While avoiding major spoilers, Serkis made it clear the production is fully behind Dornan’s casting and revealed that Mortensen has also shown his support.
“I really, really don’t want to go into it right now because I do want to save that for, you know, further down the line. I’m gonna save all discussion about casting. Other than that, we are thrilled that Jamie’s doing it. I mean, we’re, you know, we’re absolutely thrilled. And, by the way, so is Viggo.”
With production moving forward, anticipation for The Hunt for Gollum continues to grow as fans wait to see how the film expands one of Tolkien’s most fascinating chapters. For Anya Taylor-Joy, the project also marks the beginning of a personal journey, transforming a lifelong Harry Potter fan into someone eager to immerse herself in the rich mythology of Middle-earth.
