Lord of the Rings star Andy Serkis has revealed he would love to play Gollum again in the film being made of The Hobbit.
But in an exclusive interview with KOS Media, Serkis, 44, revealed, “nothing is signed and sealed”.
The King Kong star also spoke about his role as Captain Haddock in a movie trilogy about the comic book character Tintin, being directed and produced by Steven Spielberg and Peter Jackson.
He talked to KOS Media just days before filming at Dickens World in Chatham this weekend for a possible new TV series.
Serkis said he was keen to reprise his most famous role as the creature Gollum in the new film being directed by Guillermo del Toro and produced by Lord of the Rings director Peter Jackson.
“Nothing is signed and sealed,” he said. “Gollum and Gandalf are in The Hobbit and whoever says I am in it for sure is assuming it has all been done and dusted.
“But you never know in this industry. It would be fantastic to play Gollum again. He is a wonderful character and I enjoyed playing him in the Lord of the Rings. There’s more to be got out of him and more fun to be had.”
Comparing Jackson and del Toro as directors, he said: “I know Peter Jackson inside out now after King Kong, which was amazing fun, and Lord of the Rings.
“They are both complete visionaries. I know Guillermo will bring a fresh set of eyes to the story, which is greatly loved. As a combo, Guillermo and Peter will be awesome.”
Mexican Del Toro directed cult films such as Pan’s Labyrinth, Blade II and Hellboy. As well as The Hobbit, which is due out in 2011, he will direct a film chronicling events in the gap between that story and what happens in The Lord of The Rings.
Asked if he is knocking on doors to make sure he gets the part, Serkis said: “The actual nuts
and bolts of being approached through my agent will come fairly soon I would imagine.
“It would be strange if Gollum wasn’t there and it would be strange I would imagine if they didn’t ask me to do it. So I am secretly assuming I will be.”
Serkis starts filming the first Tintin movie in Los Angeles in September.
He said: “This is being created using what is now called performance capture. You wear a funny black suit covered in white balls so the camera captures your performance, rather than your acting.
“It is a style that has become popular – I love it. I used it in King Kong and as Gollum. It is a superb way of working because it liberates you as an actor – you can play anything you want in it.
“It’s down to how you interpret a role and you can completely transform yourself.
“Beowulf was done like this. The filming doesn’t take too long, but post-production takes a while.”
Some reports say Tintin is going to be more dark and sinister than the comics by Belgian Hergé, real name Georges Remi.
Serkis said: “I am not quite sure which way it is going to go. It’s going to be a real adventure story – the characters are really well written and well drawn.
Serkis came to Dickens World
to appear in a show provisionally called Newgate, which is described as The Sopranos set in 1700s London. If the pilot is a success, it could lead to a 13-part series.
He plays villainous Jonathan Wild in a pilot directed by Audrey Cooke, who has directed episodes of TV series including The Bill, Holby City, and Brookside.
The pilot will be taken to America in the hope a backer can be found to finance the series.
Serkis will be next seen in a BBC adaptation of Charles Dickens’ Little Dorrit, with Maidstone-born Mackenzie Crook of The Office and Pirates of the Caribbean fame.
POSTED: 12/07/2008 06:00:00
Bookmark with:
Email to a friend: