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Peter Jackson Calls AI a Filmmaking Tool as He Details 'Hunt for Gollum' at Cannes

At Cannes, he framed AI as a tool requiring clear consent for digital likenesses.

Overview

  • Jackson, who spoke at a Cannes masterclass Wednesday, said AI is “just a special effect” and argued filmmakers must secure an actor’s approval before using a digital version of their face.
  • He cautioned that fear of AI could block awards recognition for performance-capture work and cited Andy Serkis’ Gollum as a fully human performance that voters often overlook.
  • He confirmed he will produce rather than direct The Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum, with Serkis directing and reprising Gollum in a story focused on the character’s inner life.
  • The film is set for a December 17, 2027 theatrical release, with Elijah Wood and Ian McKellen returning and Aragorn recast with Jamie Dornan to match the story’s earlier timeline.
  • He said he is writing a new Tintin script with longtime collaborator Fran Walsh and expressed interest in making a feature about the World War II Dambusters Raid.