Andy Serkis Returns to Gollum as Actor and Director

Serkis said revisiting Gollum, whom he first played 26 years ago, has kept his mind active and disrupted his sleep. He described waking during the night unsure whether he was asleep or awake, thinking about whether he was directing Gollum or the character was directing him. Serkis is acting in and directing a new Lord of the Rings film focused on Gollum.

He has said that actors are changed by the characters they play, and that separating from a role can take a long time. Serkis said he does not expect Gollum ever to leave him entirely.

Serkis also reflected on performance capture, the technique used alongside computer-generated imagery to bring Gollum to the screen. He once spoke passionately about it as acting, but said he has accepted that some people misunderstand the process. He compared the digital elements to a physical mask, emphasizing that the performance is authored by an actor.

The movie is due to arrive in cinemas on December 17, 2027. Ian McKellen, Elijah Wood and Lee Pace are also returning to the franchise, alongside new cast members including Kate Winslet, Jamie Dornan, Leo Woodall and Anya Taylor-Joy. Serkis’ memoir, a bizarrely true account of the pressures in his life, was released on November 3.