Andy Serkis Directs and Stars in ‘The Hunt for Gollum’ with New Motion-Capture Set Footage Released

Warner Bros. has released behind-the-scenes footage from *The Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum*. The video captures director and actor Andy Serkis transforming back into the iconic character Gollum on set, showcasing his journey through a motion-capture suit.

The scene begins on what appears to be the first day of filming. Serkis checks in with the crew, asking, “What are we going to start with?” before receiving the response, “At the beginning.” Thumbng through what resembles a script, he inquires, “Who’s up?” The reply: “You are.”

Serkis then positions himself center stage, crouches atop a box, and delivers the line in his distinctive rattling voice, “And…Action!” before the footage cuts to the embedded video below.

In 2024, Serkis told Deadline he was eager to revisit Gollum, citing significant advancements in motion-capture technology since his original portrayal. He noted that earlier techniques were limited to interior sets, relying solely on motion capture. Over time, innovations such as those seen in the *Planet of the Apes* franchise enabled untethered, real-time performance capture, allowing for precise facial expressions driven by head-mounted cameras. Meanwhile, Jim Cameron’s *Avatar* series and outdoor filming further pushed the boundaries of realistic character performance.

Set between *The Hobbit* and *The Fellowship of the Ring*, *The Hunt for Gollum* follows Aragorn’s mission to capture Gollum before he reveals the One Ring’s location to Sauron. The story draws from Tolkien’s Appendices. While plot details remain scarce, Serkis hinted to the BBC that the central conflict spans “two different dimensions,” adding that the film’s narrative will explore new terai.

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