Andy Serkis Returns as Gollum 26 Years Later
The actor, who is directing and starring in The Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum, reflects on the toll of playing the iconic character and the challenges of reprising the role
Andy Serkis is set to reprise his role as Gollum in the upcoming film The Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum, 26 years after he first portrayed the character. Serkis, who is also directing the film, has spoken about the impact of playing Gollum on his life, including affecting his sleep and making it difficult for him to separate the character from other things.
The film, scheduled to open in theaters on December 17, 2027, boasts an ensemble cast, including Ian McKellen, Elijah Wood, Lee Pace, Kate Winslet, Jamie Dornan, Leo Woodall, and Anya Taylor-Joy. Serkis' return to the role of Gollum is a significant one, given the character's complexity and the toll it has taken on the actor.
Serkis has stated that playing Gollum has been an intense experience, requiring him to go into the mind of a character who is obsessive, guilt-ridden, and experiences internal conflict. He has also spoken about the challenges of returning to a role he first took on 26 years ago, which has made his already active mind even more intense and impacted his sleep.
The actor's experience with performance capture, which was used to bring Gollum to life, has also been a topic of discussion. Serkis used to be 'evangelical' about the technology, but now takes a more laid-back approach, saying 'If you get it? Great'. This shift in perspective may be due in part to the debate over AI in film, which has led some to overlook the human performance behind digitally-altered characters like Gollum.
## Why it matters The debate over AI in film has significant implications for actors like Serkis, who have pioneered the use of performance capture in their work. As Peter Jackson, the filmmaker behind the Lord of the Rings franchise, has pointed out, the current environment is wary of AI-generated performances, which may make it difficult for actors like Serkis to receive recognition for their work. This is despite the fact that performances like Gollum are entirely human-generated, with the actor's performance being the foundation for the digitally-altered character.
The release of The Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum will likely reignite the debate over performance capture and AI in film. As Serkis prepares to bring Gollum back to the big screen, his reflections on the character and the technology used to create him offer a unique insight into the challenges and opportunities of this innovative approach to filmmaking.
