Serkis Restricts AI's Role in Hunt for Gollum to De-Aging Returning Cast

Director Andy Serkis has confirmed that The Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum will employ artificial intelligence, but only for a narrow, technical purpose. Speaking to Variety, Serkis revealed that machine learning tools will be used to de-age certain actors reprising their roles from the original trilogy, a prequel set between the events of The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings. According to vgtimes.com, Serkis stressed that AI is "not involved in generating actual shots for the film," drawing a clear line against the broader generative AI trends stirring debate in Hollywood.

vgtimes.comAndy Serkis Explains How AI Is Being Used in The Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum

"Not at present, other than some of the de-aging. There’s a little bit of de-aging for some of the characters, and machine learning is part of the process."

GeekTyrantTHE LORD OF THE RINGS: THE HUNT FOR GOLLUM Will Use AI, But Only for One Very Specific Reason

Serkis's comments come amid intense industry scrutiny of AI in filmmaking. SuperHeroHype reported that the director shared his favorite filmmaking techniques during the same interview, framing the de-aging tool as a practical solution rather than a creative shortcut. The prequel will see Elijah Wood and Ian McKellen return as Frodo and Gandalf, according to IGN France, and the de-aging technology is aimed at making the veteran actors appear consistent with their younger counterparts from the earlier films.

2 sources

IGN FranceThe Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum Will Use AI to De-Age Some of Its CharactersSuperHeroHypeLord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum Will Use AI for 1 Specific Purpose

ComicBook observed that the problem of aging actors has "ruined multiple prequels" in other franchises, making Serkis's targeted use of AI a strategic choice. MovieWeb, however, described the move as confirming "the worst AI CGI trend," reflecting ongoing unease about the technology's aesthetic impact. Polygon noted that Serkis remained "coy about the specifics" of which characters would receive the treatment, but the film is slated for a 2026 release.

2 sources

ComicBookLord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum Will Use AI to Fix a Problem That’s Ruined Multiple PrequelsMovieWebNew 'Lord of the Rings' Spin-Off Confirmed to Use Worst AI CGI Trend

By limiting AI to de-aging and explicitly excluding it from shot generation, Serkis appears to be navigating a middle path. The approach may allow The Hunt for Gollum to smooth over visual continuity issues without triggering the backlash that has greeted fully AI-generated sequences in other projects. As GeekTyrant put it, "every new movie connected to the technology seems to spark another debate," and Serkis's measured reveal aims to keep that debate focused on a single, well-defined tool.