Andy Serkis Almost Turned Down Gollum Role as Wanted Something Better for Peter Jackson Trilogy

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As a die-hard fan of cinema and literature, I can confidently say that Andy Serkis is undoubtedly one of the most significant figures in modern fantasy storytelling. His transformation into Gollum in Peter Jackson‘s Lord of the Rings trilogy was not just a role; it was a journey that reshaped his life and the face of filmmaking itself.

If there’s anyone more cherished in Tolkien’s works than Serkis, it’s hard to imagine who that might be. Having portrayed Gollum in Peter Jackson’s trilogy and The Hobbit, lending his voice to the audiobook versions of these books and The Silmarillion, Serkis has become an integral part of Tolkien’s fantasy world. Now, he is set to rejoin the franchise as director of the upcoming movie, The Hunt for Gollum. Yet, things could have taken a different turn if he had declined the role of Gollum, which initially didn’t appeal to him.

Serkis recently spoke about his reaction to being offered the role of Gollum while appearing at a Fan Expo San Francisco, explaining how he had no real interest in the role after misunderstanding what the role entailed. He said:

As a passionate film aficionado, I recall the intriguing moment when my agent initially proposed an opportunity over the phone. “Listen,” they said, “They’re producing this small film in New Zealand titled ‘Lord of the Rings,’ and they’re interested in you for a voice role for a digital character.” My initial thought was, “Really? There have to be plenty of great roles within that movie. Couldn’t I land something more substantial?

Initially, I was told that it would just be about providing a voice. However, when I met Peter Jackson during an audition, he mentioned they were on the brink of testing motion capture technology for the first time. He wanted a live actor present on set to interact with the other actors, as until then, most CG characters were symbolized by a tennis ball on a stick, and actors had to pretend they were engaging with them.

Gollum Provided Andy Serkis with an Incredible Pioneering Role

Despite some initial apprehension, assuming the character of Gollum turned out to be a profoundly impactful experience for Serkis. A key aspect of the role involved immersing himself physically more so than many CGI characters during that era. In essence, he needed to embody Gollum on set. Serkis himself stated:

In a manner familiar to many, Gollum significantly influences numerous scenes and creates tension between Frodo and Sam. The essence lies in the interactions. When casting for this role, Peter Jackson desired an actor who could embody him. Disregarding motion capture, he approached it like any other part, delving into the character’s psychology, physicality, and voice. For him, these aspects couldn’t be isolated; instead, they were intertwined. Developing Gollum’s voice wasn’t a straightforward process; it didn’t work for him as an actor to create a voice out of thin air. To bring Gollum to life, he contemplated the guilt that Gollum felt from murdering his relative and how this guilt was lodged deep within him. He believed this guilt was trapped in Gollum’s throat, which led to involuntary actions that contributed to the unique sound of Gollum.

Indeed, Andy Serkis was among the first actors to fully embody a character through motion capture technology, as evident in his portrayal of Gollum in “The Lord of the Rings” trilogy. This groundbreaking performance led him to use motion capture again for the role of King Kong in Peter Jackson’s remake of the 1933 classic monster movie. As the technology evolved, Serkis became a trailblazer in this field. With his directorial experience from movies like “Venom: Let There Be Carnage,” he will now be sitting in the director’s chair for Warner Bros. Discovery’s revisit to Middle Earth with “The Hunt for Gollum,” completing a full circle on his journey within the Lord of the Rings universe.

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2024-12-04 17:32