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Peter Jackson Calls AI a Filmmaking Tool, Backs Serkis to Lead 'Hunt for Gollum'

His Cannes remarks stress licensed use of likenesses in an industry reworking AI rules.

Overview

  • Speaking at a Cannes masterclass on Wednesday, Jackson said AI in movies is “just a special effect” and he does not oppose its use when an actor’s likeness is licensed.
  • He argued that fear around AI has hurt awards recognition for digital or motion‑captured roles, saying performances like Andy Serkis’s Gollum face little chance with voters despite being fully human‑driven.
  • Jackson explained that he handed directing duties on The Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum to Serkis because the film probes Gollum’s inner life and addiction and Serkis knows the character best, while Jackson remains a producer.
  • Warner Bros. has set a December 17, 2027 theatrical release for The Hunt for Gollum, with production returning to New Zealand and a cast that includes Andy Serkis, Jamie Dornan, Ian McKellen, Elijah Wood, Kate Winslet, Lee Pace and Leo Woodall.
  • Jackson said he is writing a new Tintin script with longtime collaborator Fran Walsh, adding a separate creative project to his Middle‑earth producing role.