Warner Bros. Faces Backlash after Copyright Strike Against Fan Film ‘The Hunt for Gollum’
Warner Bros. recently issued a copyright strike against the fan film ‘The Hunt for Gollum’, just a day after announcing a film of the same name. The fan film, which had been live on YouTube for 15 years and had amassed an impressive 13.6 million views, was taken down due to the copyright claim. However, it has since been restored online.
The original Gollum actor, Andy Serkis, is set to star and direct in the new Lord of the Rings film ‘The Hunt for Gollum’ announced by Warner Bros. Despite the excitement surrounding the new film, fans have expressed frustration with Warner Bros. for taking down the beloved fan film.
This move comes at a time when multiple adaptations in the Lord of the Rings universe are in the works. Amazon’s highly anticipated ‘The Rings of Power’ TV show, ‘The War of the Rohirrim’ animated film, and ongoing video game adaptations are all part of the expanded franchise.
Warner Bros. CEO has stated that the Lord of the Rings franchise is “largely underused” and the company is working to change that through new projects and adaptations. With the fan base eagerly awaiting these new releases, the backlash against the takedown of ‘The Hunt for Gollum’ is a reminder of the passion and dedication of fans within the Tolkien community.
