Matt Reeves on Andy Serkis and his Star Wars Involvement.
Dawn of the Planet of the Apes director Matt Reeves is a long time friend with JJ Abrams. While promoting his latest movie Reeves admitted that he might be part of the reason why Andy Serkis was cast in Star Wars Episode VII…
From /Film:
Reeves told me that he screened a very early pre-cg version Dawn of the Planet of the Apes for JJ Abrams:
I showed him a bit of the movie. I wanted to get some feedback. And I know that he had known and really loved Andy Serkis. But it’s the same experience I had coming in and asking to see all the footage of Andy from Rise with him in his helmet cam, so that I could understand exactly what the process was. And the thing that struck me, and actually got me so excited, was the mystery behind how great he is, is that he’s great. That he’s an amazing actor. And the scenes that I showed him were of Andy just in mo-cap. And he was like “oh my God, he’s an incredible actor.” He was so blown away.
And now he’s in Star Wars. I don’t know if that had a direct… I mean, it could, [and] I think he’d always loved Andy. And they had known each other a bit before, anyway. But I think when he saw it, it was like a real revelation. He said to me, “that looks — I’m not kidding when I tell you I think that’s one of the best performances I’ve ever seen.” I said “I know, isn’t he amazing?” He’s so good.
While this interview is also far from a direct confirmation that Andy is playing a mo-cap character in Episode VII, I continue to believe so. Only time will tell.
Founder of SWNN, MNN and The Cantina forums.
Born on April 24, 1980.
I have a bad feeling about this…….
Andy Serkis is playing the ST mo-cap version of Jar Jar Binks.
The son of Senator Binks!
When the Queen died, the people of Naboo voted Jar Jar Binks as King of the Naboo!
So he is playing KING BINKS!!!!!!!
WESA FREE
WESA FREEEEEEEE
(30 years later)
WESA WONG.
And the oscar goes to Andy Serkis playing the Sarlac Pit in Star Wars VII.
Cool for updating the site again. Now its better than ever!
You’re right. Oscar does end up with Serkis.
come on there are so many great charecters Serkis can play. Maybe Zeb or Chopper…..
I admit he may be good at what he does but the cgi ultimately looks unreal.
Just going to put this here: In the picture leading this article, Andy Serkis looks quite a bit like Ian McDiarmid. Emperor Palpatine clone anyone?
Oh no! The second worst alien of all… o_0
Andy has two roles in the film. Only one is mo-cap. He is playing both a rancor, (a very small part) and a “mystical” bounty hunter tasked by a legion of Hutts to find Luke and Han.
That quote could just as easily back up an argument that JJ saw the pre CGI performance and is using Andy as a normal (non CGI) actor. Which he has loads of experience in.
Nice find, VH. Seems cool that Reeves could have helped Serkis to get into SW. They say it’s who you know.
“While this interview is also far from a direct confirmation that Andy is playing a mo-cap character in Episode VII, I continue to believe so.”
Uhh doesnt it actually sound like it confirms the opposite?
I find it hilariously stupid that people are afraid that he’s going to be Jar Jar 2.0 just because he’s probably going to play a motion-capture character. Never mind his memorable motion-capture performances as Gollum, King Kong, Caesar, and Captain Haddock – because his character is being made digitally instead of being made with makeup, he’s clearly going to suck!
U talk a load of wank
You misunderstand my point. Sarcasm does not translate well over the internet, apparently.
What I was saying is that, as an actor, he is really good at what he does – even if he’s digital. Just because his character is digital does not mean that his character will be terrible.
I agree he is a brilliant actor. Just Gollumn was crap like the rest of Lord of the rings. If you want so see Serkis perform watch him act NOT through mocap
Andy Serkis is quite a brilliant actor. I think his performance in Dicken’s Little Dorrit was increadable:
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1178522/
Every scence he plays sends shivers through one’s bones. Admittedly he played in some completely degenerated B movies like “Lord of the Rings” by a braindead Director. So based on this I would not waste him on a Mocap character.