Andy Serkis rules out returning as Gollum in Amazon's Lord of the Rings: Start fresh, he says
Amazon's highly ambitious Lord of the Rings TV series has been in the making for quite some time. In fact, if reports are to believed, the streaming giant has made some huge investments in a bid to keep the rival site, Netflix, from securing the rights.
All in all, it's believed to be a live-action show serving as a prequel to author J.R.R. Tolkien's epic trilogy. However, what's being kept closely guarded at the moment is details about the plot and characterization of the much-awaited series.
While there has been some buzz about the show being centered on a young Aragorn, there's still no word on whether popular characters like Gollum or Gandalf are making a return in the TV edition of LOTR. And if actor Andy Serkis' suggestion is to be considered, the producers would rather spin something new than re-introduce a version of these classic characters.
Speaking to Cinema Blend, the 54-year-old English actor almost let out a gasp when talking about his possible return as Gollum.
"Oh boy, listen, I mean...I don't think so," exclaimed Serkis.
"If I was anyone making those, they're obviously going to want to start fresh and create something brand new. And that's how it should be. That's what you do with great, classic pieces of work. Like [The Jungle Book]. It bears repetition, and it bears reinterpretation. And I think it needs a fresh pair of ears and eyes, and I'm sure that's the way they'll go," he added, ruling out any chances of his return as Gollum.
Meanwhile, speculations have been strong about Amazon's Lord of the Rings opening with a "season centered on a young Aragorn".
The rumor surfaced online, courtesy of TheOneRing.net, which is a dedicated fan site created by the loyal followers of the books.
"We have confirmed from multiple sources that @AmazonStudios new billion-dollar #LOTR series will open its first season centered on a young Aragorn," the tweet read.
Indeed an official nod from the studios is still pending, and at this point, it would be sensible to take the news with a pinch of salt.