Andy Serkis Reveals the Film He Never Tires Of

Andy Serkis has long been the bloke who changed the game for digital characters, showing the world that motion-capture acting could be just as artistic as any other performance. While most punters know him for his work in fantasy and sci-fi blockbusters, his taste in films is a fair bit broader than you might reckon. With another turn as Gollum on the cards in a new Lord of the Rings prequel, Serkis has also spent the last decade proving he’s more than just a wizard with a green suit and dots on his face.

He’s had a hand in directing, too, shooting second unit for Peter Jackson and guiding other actors through the Planet of the Apes series. But Serkis is clearly keen to tell stories where he’s got full creative control. His take on The Jungle Book, the Netflix film Mowgli: Legend of the Jungle, went for a darker spin, but it landed just after Jon Favreau’s Disney version, which cleaned up at the box office and left Serkis’ effort in the shadows.

Directing Beyond Expectations

Most would’ve expected Serkis to stick with CGI-heavy adventures, but he threw a curveball with Breathe, a period drama starring Andrew Garfield and Claire Foy. The film delivered some gut-wrenching performances, showing Serkis wasn’t afraid to step outside his comfort zone. Even his superhero flick, Venom: Let There Be Carnage, took a left turn, swapping out the usual doom and gloom for a bit of madcap comedy, more in line with Joe Dante or John Landis than your standard comic book fare.

His latest project, an animated take on Animal Farm, is aimed squarely at the kids, proving he’s not one to be boxed in. While none of his directorial outings have set the critics on fire, there’s no denying he’s got a knack for picking top-notch directors to look up to.

Serkis’ Surprising Favourite

When asked by The Hot Corn to name a film he could watch on repeat, Serkis didn’t go for the obvious. Instead, he picked The Piano, Jane Campion’s Oscar-winning period drama.

“She’s an amazing director. I love it. I absolutely adore that film.”

The Piano, released in 1993, stars Holly Hunter as a mute woman who heads to New Zealand with her daughter, played by Anna Paquin. Both actresses took home Oscars for their roles, and Campion herself became one of the first women ever nominated for Best Director at the Academy Awards. She didn’t win that one—Steven Spielberg nabbed it for Schindler’s List—but Campion did score Best Original Screenplay.

Campion’s Influence and Kiwi Connections

Campion’s work put the spotlight on New Zealand’s film industry, telling deeply personal stories that found success through word of mouth. Her path isn’t all that different from Peter Jackson’s, another Kiwi who’s become one of Serkis’ closest collaborators. If Serkis keeps drawing inspiration from filmmakers like Campion and Jackson, he’s likely to keep growing behind the camera, no matter what the critics say.