Andy Serkis said he would consider returning to the Lord of the Rings franchise, but he explained why Peter Jackson would also have to return.
While not among his most recent credits, Serkis' role in Peter Jackson's Lord of the Rings trilogy is among his most iconic. Serkis provided the voice and motion capture for Gollum in The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Rings, The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers, and The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King. His unforgettable performance has made him as synonymous with the Gollum as Elijah Wood is with Frodo or Ian McKellen is with Gandalf. Serkis took up the mantle again for The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey and has now confirmed he would be up for reprising the role again.
On the BroBible Post-Credit Podcast, Serkis said he'd gladly appear in more Lord of the Rings movies, but only if Jackson is attached. "Look, [producers] Peter Jackson, Fran Walsh, Philippa Boyens are sort of a second family that I have become part of and have gone on to make so many films with. And — let me tell you — they are the best and most incredible people to work with," Serkis said. "I think that there are so many other potential Middle-earth projects which could come about, and if they’re doing them, I would, of course, jump at the chance to have that relationship rekindled." Serkis emphasized the franchise's importance and impact on him, saying, "Middle-earth has never left me."
In February, Warner Bros. announced that a deal had been made by film studio heads Mike De Luca and Pam Abdy to produce multiple new Lord of the Rings films based on J R. R. Tolkien's books. While details are scarce, Jackson has made a public statement regarding the news. Jackson and his collaborators Fran Walsh and Philippa Boyens released a statement confirming that Warner Bros. has contacted them regarding this deal. The team also expressed what seems to be support for the studio taking on the material, saying, "We look forward to speaking with [the studio] further to hear their vision for the franchise moving forward."
Following this announcement, Serkis is the first actor from the Lord of the Rings original trilogy to express interest in being involved with the new films. Warner Bros. has not given any details about when the new films will take place in relation to Jackson's original trilogy, so it's possible that few of the actors from the original films would have a reason to return.
That being said, franchises like Star Wars utilize legacy actors in remakes to appeal to fans of the originals, sometimes taking advantage of the time passed since the original films were released to explore what's happened to those characters since their last appearance onscreen. While nothing is certain, fans can at least latch onto Serkis' excitement for the project and hope that some of his Lord of the Rings alum feel similarly up to the task of telling new stories in Middle-earth.
Source: BroBible Post-Credit Podcast