In exciting news for his many fans, actor Andy Serkis is making a special one day appearance at Supanova in Melbourne on Saturday, 18 April. An actor of many talents, including playing villain Ulysses Klaue in Marvel’s Black Panther, and the most recent Alfred Pennyworth, Bruce Wayne’s beloved Butler, in Matt Reeves’ The Batman, Serkis has gained particular attention over the years for his role as a pioneer in the art of Motion Capture performance.
Motion Capture, often abbreviated to MoCap, is the practice of capturing an actor’s movements and expressions, to then be built into a digital character onscreen. MoCap is the main method of performance for films such as Avatar, or the creation of Mark Ruffalo’s Hulk in the MCU. For many in the industry, it was Serkis’ early work that made these things possible. Let’s have a look at some of his greatest MoCap roles.
Gollum/Smeagol, ‘The Lord of the Rings’
After a brief, uncredited voice cameo in The Fellowship of the Ring, the first film in Peter Jackson’s hit The Lord of the Rings trilogy, Andy Serkis officially stepped into the role of Gollum, a former Hobbit monstrously warped by his obsession with the One Ring, in the second film, The Two Towers.
Serkis, in his groundbreaking for the time Motion Capture suit, filmed his scenes on the same set, but separate from the rest of the cast. He performed both Gollum’s physical movements, and distinctive voice, regularly drinking a mixture of hot water, honey, and ginger between takes to limit the strain on his throat. For many in the industry, the scene in The Two Towers in which Gollum argues with what remains of his good side, Smeagol, with Serkis expertly switching between the two, was a revelation, establishing Motion Capture as an aid for performance rather than just a fancy new visual effect.
Serkis reprised the role of Gollum in The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey, the first film in Jackson’s LotR prequel trilogy.
King Kong (2005)
Andy Serkis teamed up with Peter Jackson again for his 2005 remake of King Kong. Using the next stage in MoCap technology, Serkis this time played the giant ape of the film’s title. Jackson was adamant that Kong was not to appear too human, so to prepare for the role, Serkis first spent time with the Gorillas at London Zoo, and later travelled to Rwanda to observe Gorillas in the wild.
While filming, the actor spent two hours in the make-up chair daily, having over 250 Motion Capture tracking spots applied to his face. The performance paid off, with many critics praising Kong as feeling like a character in the film rather than a generic monster.
Captain Haddock, ‘The Adventures of Tintin’
Serkis paired with Jackson a third time for the 2011 MoCap-animation hybrid film The Adventures of Tintin, adapted from Herge’s classic comics. However, the dynamic was slightly different this time around, with Peter Jackson producing, and Stephen Spielberg in the director’s chair. It was actually Spielberg’s decision to cast Serkis, who played Captain Archibald Haddock.
Largely based on Tintin comic stories Secret of the Unicorn and Red Rackham’s Treasure, the film provides an origin story for the scruffy Haddock’s unlikely partnership with the naturally heroic Tintin. Andy Serkis’ performance was praised for imbuing the troubled Haddock with a warmth and charm that was not immediately apparent on the page but necessary for the film, explaining why the often Boy Scout-like Tintin continues to tolerate Haddock despite his many mistakes.
Caesar, ‘Planet of the Apes’ Reboot series
Having become known for his skill in Motion Capture performance, 2011 also saw Serkis cast as Caesar, a chimpanzee of enhanced intelligence destined to lead a primate revolution, in Rise of the Planet of the Apes, the first film in Fox’s reboot of the classic Planet of the Apes franchise.
Rise, followed by sequels Dawn of the Planet of the Apes and War for the Planet of the Apes, follow Caesar through the entirety of his life, highlighting enduring internal conflict between the need to protect his own kind and his lingering affection for humans, having been raised by them.
Serkis’ performance was highly praised, with many critics comparing his Caesar to a tragic Shakespearean King. He was even the subject of a campaign to have MoCap performances recognised at the Oscars.
Supreme Leader Snoke, ‘Star Wars’ sequel trilogy
In 2015, Andy Serkis donned yet another MoCap suit to portray Supreme Leader Snoke in Star Wars: The Force Awakens, the first film of Disney’s Star Wars sequel trilogy. Mysterious, creepy, and definitely evil, most fans initially expected Snoke to be the Big Bad of the sequels, so were surprised by his death in The Last Jedi, and disappointed by the eventual reveal that he was just Palpatine’s cloning project gone awry.
Still, Serkis was praised for doing what he could to instill the character with menace in his relatively short screentime. The actor later returned to Star Wars, in his own skin, to guest star as Kino Loy in season one of the critically acclaimed Andor.
Prepare to ask all your best MoCap questions when Andy Serkis visits Supanova in Melbourne!
