Andy Serkis says AI brings new “responsibility” in the film landscape but that “human creativity will evolve around it”
Andy Serkis has opened up about his feelings towards AI, emphasising that he feels it brings a new level of “responsibility” in the film landscape.
Serkis has made a career out of playing roles which heavily involve technology and special effects, between Planet of the Apes and Gollum in Lord of the Rings.
However, when discussing the advancement of AI at a panel at the APOS conference on June 16th, the actor voiced his feelings about what the technology means for his craft.
Video-calling into the panel from New Zealand, while joined by Google executive Jon Zepp and filmmaker Josh Nelson Youssef, Serkis first expressed his opinion about what the possibilities of AI could bring.
He said (via Variety): “I’m looking forward to seeing how new creators use these tools in imaginative ways,” before going on to discuss the power that comes with this.
“As the creative landscape expands, so does our responsibility,” Serkis stated, before Zepp chimed in to note that AI is now “a major new dimension of storytelling.”
Many actors and filmmakers have emphasised their hatred for the rise of AI in the movie-making space, saying it is a threat to the movie-making industry as a whole. It became a pillar of the historic SAG-AFTRA strike in 2023.
However, since times have moved on from then, and so too has AI rapidly advanced, Serkis was still keen to strike a positive note, as he said: “The world is changing fast,” before adding, “But human creativity will evolve alongside it.”
Serkis is currently preparing to return to his iconic role in Lord of the Rings, heading both in front of the camera and to the director’s chair for Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum, which is set for release in December 2027.
He is swapping directorial roles with Peter Jackson, who is now producing the new film. However, the filmmaker said previously that AI would be a hindrance for Serkis, as he doesn’t have “any hope for winning awards” because of it.
Never Miss A Scene
The Far Out Film Newsletter
All the latest film news from the independent voice of culture.
Straight to your inbox.