UPDATE! Pip Andersen to Play a Mo-Cap Character in Episode VII?
Star Wars: Episode VII actor and professional parkour athlete Pip Andersen shared on Twitter that he recently visited the Imaginarium in the UK. The Imaginarium is Andy Serkis’ motion capture company which was recently announced to be involved in all of the performance capture on the upcoming Star Wars projects. Could this mean that Pip is playing a mo-cap character in Episode VII…?
First it appears that Pip did some filming 2 weeks ago on the Episode VII set, accompanied by his wife.
Fun day accompanying @piptrix on the #StarWarsEpisodeVII set for the first time
— Becky Andersen (@beckyandersen) September 26, 2014
Later he shared that he was going to London at Imaginarium UK and hinted that it was about work:
Off to London for a week 🙂 “work” lols — Pip Andersen (@piptrix) October 5, 2014
Had a super fun day today at @ImaginariumUK 😉 #lifegoals
— Pip Andersen (@piptrix) October 6, 2014
After these comments there are no doubts that Andersen did some mo-cap work for the Imaginarium. So is his character in Episode VII an alien? Or maybe he did some additional work for another character? Time will tell. Whatever the case it appears that the mo-cap process will be an important part of the movie.
As you remember few months ago Imaginarium founder Andy Serkis confirmed that his company is involved in all of the performance capture on the upcoming Star Wars projects. He also revealed that he is “playing a character in that.” In a later interview Serkis revealed more on his company’s involvement. (via MagnarTheGreat from The Cantina boards)
What’s coming up with Star Wars that you can say? Serkis: Very, very little about Star Wars unfortunately… I mean I’d love to–I’d to fill you in on everything. I mean… I suppose what I can say is…I’m not… I’m not playing a main character, it’s more of a cameo role. We’re also playing an important part in Star Wars in that the performance capture company–The Imaginarium–that I started two years ago. We’re involved in the consultancy for the picture. So there’ll be more of that as opposed to the straight forward stuff Lucas did in the last trilogy… Serkis: ??? performance capture in it yep.
So what do you think? What character is Pip Andersen playing in Episode VII? Human, alien or both.
UPDATE!
Writer and Director Dawson James who is also doing some mo-cap work at the Imaginarium for his movie HUD shared a photo of him and Pip Anderesen both in mo-cap suits. Both projects are not related but probably they met each other on the Imaginarium set during the breaks of the filming.
Nice to meet @piptrix @ImaginariumUK the other day. This guy can jump! #freerunning pic.twitter.com/ktSaYzNBAG
— Dawson James (@dawsoncjames) October 9, 2014
And while this indeed could mean that Pip is playing a mo-cap character in Episode VII, there is still a possibility that he is doing this for a separate project. So keep that in mind too.
Founder of SWNN, MNN and The Cantina forums.
Born on April 24, 1980.
Maul 2.0 – the kid stays in the series.
All for a Wookie B-boy tournament..
man, I was hoping he wouldn’t do mo-cap – – he’s cute.
I’m a dude and I agree. I thought Pip looked great. Being super talented at parkour/gymnastics or whatever you call his awesome was just a bonus!
I think he’s just helping with some of the more over the top maneuvers. Things they polish up in post. Yet his face and what not will still be in Episode 7.
Could be totally wrong though.
They may be using him for several different roles too.
It’s a bit of a given these days that they will build a digital model of him regardless of the character he will play. It would come in handy even if he didn’t play an alien and may even help out with other characters who can’t pull off the same moves. May be what Rip said, he’s doing flips for everyone!
I believe he is playing a real character, and the mo-cap is for creating a digital body double of his character for real crazy stunts, like leaping off a ship or tall building. A little like how Maul ‘flew around’ when he first engaged Gui-gon on Tatooine.
Viralhide – Aren’t all the humans in starwars technically aliens because they are not from Earth?
Any species is alien from the perspective of another species.
Pip Andersen to Play a Mo-Cap Character in Episode VII?
Not necessary.
Dudes now are friends and Pip spend a fun day visiting imaginarium. That’s all.
Probably they will be in touch for future projects (Serkis has recently discovered Pip’s abilitities) but not for E7.
yeah..that is why he said he was going there to “work”..and why he was on the episode 7 set.. they are just buds…just chillaxin on the star wars set..kicking back and have a couple cold ones…..wow..stfu dude
I don’t see why they would need Pip to play Darth Maul 2.0, why not just ask Ray Park to come back?
No, this is a new character.
My question is what does Serkis mean by a “not really main – more of a cameo – sort of” character?
Does he mean like a revisit character?
Oh wait, didn’t Jabba have a son or something? If Jabba had a son I imagine he wouldn’t be too happy about the chick who strangled his dad being in charge of the galaxy. Hmmm
Yep, he seems to be saying: I’m sorry that my face won’t be in the movie, prepare for it. What an arrogant greedy bastard lol.
Maybe Serkis will be “the Emperor” of the ST. Instead of a brief mention, like in IV, maybe his cameo will be like Sidious in V before being expanded upon later in the next film.
Loosely reminds me of Thanos.
Not to mention the young Jedi who also blew up his dads body.
The price on Solo’s head should have tripled over those events that took place.
Maybe he’s playing the rumored alien sidekick. The one that “looks like Station from Bill and Ted’s Bogus Journey.”
Pip Anderson seems like a bit of a meathead
Does seem like he’s playing a small part – an energetic alien type.
[Soiler Caution]
Serkis is the one with the big mocap character.
He’s basically playing the new Yoda.
I doubt he has a part at all – probably just doing some stunts for an existing character nobody else could pull off.
I bet you’re right.
You know…Serkis may be playing Yoda himself. He says it is just a cameo and frank Oz said he doesn’t want to do the puppet anymore, just the voice….I could see them going CG again for a quick Yoda force ghost. I admit it’s a crazy idea but somehow it seems like it might just work.
Nah. If Yoda’s making a cameo, I see Roman Bloodworth doing the puppetry (looks like or similar to Yoda from V) and Frank Oz the voicework.
I think Serkis will be “the Emperor” of the ST, with a brief reveal that will be expanded upon in VIII and IX.
Something in my gut is telling me that MVS is going to be playing the force ghost of Obi-wan………
I think the same thing..http://www.lahiguera.net/cinemania/actores/max_von_sydow/fotos/11807/max_von_sydow.jpg
What about an older General Madine? Never thought of that did ya.
The actor who played Madine is still alive last I checked.
What if von Sydow played one of Ben’s relatives, like his brother? What if Domhnall played his son or grandson?
Considering MVS is 6’4 and Alec Guiness was about 5’9, this seems unlikely. Although with how they can make a 5’5 Tom Cruise seem 6 ft tall, it is possible.
No way. That would be completely pointless for a start. I mean we have Luke. Why overshine our new wise old sage by bringing back the previous one? .. and if they really needed a cameo or a blast from the past then it would be far better to bring back Yoda as he is the master figure over old-ben. Plus Frank is still alive. It would just completely take you out of the movie seeing old-ben without Alec Guiness. I think it’s extremely disrespectful to refill the shoes of someone who has passed if it isn’t necessary.
Speak for yourself.
Precious need meesa do
Hope not.
This project seems and old school project. Mocap character probably will be ditracting with alien suits around there.
Yeah I hope it doesn’t look like the special editions…
I’m an armchair athlete. If they need someone to play a mo-cap Hutt I am always available.
You can play Hutt’s ass. You’re PERFECT for the part! BD-~
*Way she used to giggle when yo ass would wiggle.*
I don’t like mo-cap when obvious. It’s like a really bad filter when noticed.
He’s obvs mo-capping Jar Jar Binks…
Was Jar Jar a mo-cap character? If not, what’s the difference?
Jar Jar was not mocap’d. Sadly it wasn’t until Ep3 that GL finally began to incorporate this technique. All of his moves were done by computer animators, with Ahmed Best giving a live performance with the other actors as a guide.
This work Pip is doing could be a lot of different things. For example… if you watch the start of the fight between Count Dooku & Anakin/Obi Wan… when Dooku makes his entrance he does a pretty elaborate flip… that was probably performed digitally with a double… I’m guessing that’s the kind of work pip might be doing.
Or maybe he’s an alien Jedi/sith… I guess we’ll see.
If he is doind a Mo-Cap character, it is not a humanoid, it’s more like a Pong Krell species member or…..
a Sith Gungan!
Hope there is no mo-cap in this movie. if must be, then limited and subtle. no golems, no…jar jar.
Maybe Pip and Andy are playing the same mo-cap character with the acrobatics being performed by Pip and the spoken lines and acting being performed by Andy??