The Lord of the Rings modified Hollywood’s panorama in some ways, together with its use of movement seize for Gollum/Smeagol. Whereas the movie approach is much more widespread than we understand now (for instance, Cocaine Bear’s bear was performed by an actor), it wasn’t all the time so. Andy Serkis, who performed the little, obsessive monster within the LOTR films, went via in depth prep and coaching for the sequence, solely to be laughed at by director Peter Jackson.
Earlier than Serkis formally gears up for his contribution to the 2025 film schedule, an animated adaptation of George Orwell’s Animal Farm, he reunited with some fellow LOTR alum. Through the Chicago Comedian & Leisure Expo’s Lord of the Rings reunion panel (by way of Collider), Serkis recalled his first day on set as Gollum. Although it isn’t the primary time he’s recounted being mocked for movement seize appearing, his delayed begin date behind the remainder of the manufacturing may’ve affected individuals’s reactions. As he ready for his first on-set shot from Return of the King, individuals began eyeing him, and finally, he even elicited fun from Jackson:
Movie is all shot out of order, and my first scene was 765 of movie 3, and I keep in mind crawling onto the set, and type of turning into Gollum with my skinny Lycra swimsuit on, after which entering into character. After which Peter Jackson laughing at me. All of the crew have been form of going, ‘Who’s that man, and what the hell is he doing right here? Are you able to get him out of shot as a result of we wish to shoot right here.’ I don’t suppose anyone actually knew what I used to be doing there on the very first day.
There are some things to recap, however at first, it’s a bummer that different performers didn’t (and nonetheless perhaps don’t) acknowledge how a lot dedication it takes. Albeit, this was within the late ‘90s and early ‘00s, and this Hollywood expertise was not a typical sight, and Serkis arrived later than everybody.
However, if the forged and crew have been acquainted with creator J.R.R. Tolkien, they’d know this little gremlin would certain to indicate himself on set a method or one other (thank goodness Gollum wasn’t a totally animated overlay). What I’m most shocked at, although, is that Jackson chuckled at Andy Serkis. Was he that good or was it that jarring to see somebody appearing like that for the primary time?
Regardless, the as soon as Hobbit’s legacy has been cemented in Hollywood historical past and paved the way in which for the kind of movies and the character itself. Who is aware of if initiatives like James Cameron’s Avatar franchise would’ve exploded like they did or have Zoe Saldana be considered one of mocap films’ greatest advocates, even when it does look off-kilter on set, if it weren’t for Serkis’ work on LOTR? All of that mentioned, the latest announcement of The Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum getting greenlit speaks to all of this, together with Serkis’ expertise.
Jackson is pairing up with the Smeagol/Gollum actor for the brand new LOTR prequel, which is slated for 2027. After getting delayed in manufacturing, it stays to be seen if different former LOTR actors will reprise their roles simply but. The motive for the Gollum spinoff film, in line with the pair, is that the duality of the monster has rather a lot left unexplored, per Tolkien’s appendices from The Fellowship of the Ring. Whereas who will likely be returning with Serkis for the LOTR prequel surrounding Gollum is up within the air, many alumni have weighed in (Mortensen was unclear, Bloom appears open to affix, and McKellen has doubts about being forged because of age).
One factor is obvious: Serkis and Gollum’s movement seize legacy is not a laughing matter to anybody, together with Peter Jackson. Watch the Lord of the Rings trilogy with a Max subscription.