Peter Jackson says AI debate may stop Andy Serkis from ever winning an Oscar

Peter Jackson has shared why he believes Andy Serkis may never win an Oscar for his groundbreaking performance as Gollum in The Lord of the Rings trilogy, and he thinks Hollywood’s growing anxiety around artificial intelligence is partly to blame.

Speaking during a Cannes Film Festival masterclass after receiving an honorary Palme d’Or, the Oscar-winning filmmaker said motion-capture performances are increasingly being misunderstood in an era dominated by AI concerns. 

According to Jackson, Serkis’ portrayal of Gollum has little chance of ever receiving awards recognition despite helping redefine modern filmmaking.

“A lot of the current environment, everyone’s so worried about AI,” Jackson said, arguing that digitally created characters are often grouped into the same category, even when the performance itself is entirely human-driven. 

The filmmaker stressed that Gollum was not an AI creation, but a performance built through motion-capture technology, with Serkis physically acting every moment of the character.

Jackson called it “unfair” that performances like Serkis’ are often overlooked, saying the actor’s work was “human-generated” despite relying heavily on digital technology. 

Jackson also opened up about why he decided not to direct The Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum, the upcoming film centred on the fan-favourite character.

Rather than return behind the camera himself, Jackson said he believed Serkis was the right person to lead the project because of his deep understanding of Gollum’s psychology.

“The film is about Gollum’s psychology and addiction,” Jackson said, explaining that Serkis “knows this guy better than anybody.” 

Serkis is set to both direct and star in the upcoming film, while Jackson remains involved as a producer.

The filmmaker also revealed he is quietly working on another Tintin script while attending Cannes, reviving hopes for a long-awaited follow-up to the 2011 film produced by Steven Spielberg. 

For now, however, it is Jackson’s comments about Serkis and the Oscars that are likely to spark the biggest debate, especially among fans who have long argued Gollum deserved far more awards recognition.