Andy Serkis Reflects On His Time As Second Unit Director On THE HOBBIT

Peter Jackson returns to Middle-Earth this Christmas as tackles the big screen adaptation of J.R.R. Tolkein’s The Hobbit. Originally set to be split into just two films, it was revealed a couple of months ago that there will now be THREE instalments (An Unexpected Journey, The Desolation of Smaug, There and Back Again). Andy Serkis will reprise his role as 'Gollum', but he also played a fairly pivotal role in the production of the film as second unit director. In the following interview with Digital Spy, he talks more about his experiences working on the trilogy and his excitement about getting to direct.

The adventure follows the journey of title character Bilbo Baggins, who is swept into an epic quest to reclaim the lost Dwarf Kingdom of Erebor from the fearsome dragon Smaug. Approached out of the blue by the wizard Gandalf the Grey, Bilbo finds himself joining a company of thirteen dwarves led by the legendary warrior, Thorin Oakenshield. Their journey will take them into the Wild; through treacherous lands swarming with Goblins and Orcs, deadly Wargs and Giant Spiders, Shapeshifters and Sorcerers.

Although their goal lies to the East and the wastelands of the Lonely Mountain first they must escape the goblin tunnels, where Bilbo meets the creature that will change his life forever…Gollum.

Here, alone with Gollum, on the shores of an underground lake, the unassuming Bilbo Baggins not only discovers depths of guile and courage that surprise even him, he also gains possession of Gollum’s "precious" ring that holds unexpected and useful qualities … A simple, gold ring that is tied to the fate of all Middle-earth in ways Bilbo cannot begin to know.