Is it possible to have too much of a good thing?

Warner Brothers Discovery is willing to find out. Thursday, the studio announced the title and director of the first of two new films in their venerable Lord of the Rings series. Andy Serkis, who has played/voiced Smeagol/Gollum through countless LOTR projects, will direct the first film in the new series.

The film, currently bearing the working title Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum, is in the script development stage with a projected 2026 release. Peter Jackson, who directed the first three films in the series, “will be involved every step of the way” according to WBD CEO David Zaslav. Jackson will be joined by his long-time writing partners Fran Walsh and Phillipa Boyens on the project, writing the screenplay for Hunt for Gollum.

The films have been in development for more than a year, and though there are no indications of what, if any of author J.R.R. Tolkein’s source material will be used, or any other plot details available now, Zaslav said in a statement that he sees the upcoming movies as a big win for the studio. “Lord of the Rings is one of the most successful and revered franchises in history and presents a significant opportunity for our theatrical business,” he said.

On the creative side, Jackson also trumpeted his excitement about the new films. “It is an honor and a privilege to travel back to Middle-earth with our good friend and collaborator, Andy Serkis, who has unfinished business with that stinker — Gollum!,” Jackson, Boyens and Walsh said in a statement. “As life long fans of Professor Tolkien’s vast mythology, we are proud to be working with [WBD film chiefs] Mike De Luca, Pam Abdy and the entire team at Warner Bros. on another epic adventure!”

These films will exist outside of Amazon’s plans for a larger TV universe for their entries into franchise, which could lead to two competitive visions for upcoming Lord of the Rings output.

Fans of Jackson’s original film trilogy will have a chance to revisit Middle Earth when they return to theaters this summer with new remastered and extended cuts of all three films.