In a recent interview with Variety, The Lord of the Rings actor Andy Serkis talked about his experience with being pitched the role in Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 and went on to awe over how the gaming industry has matured.
"What a video game, and I'm so thrilled with how it turned out for these guys because I love the idea of it, but I love the visuals of it. I thought it was beautiful. I am so thrilled for their success. [...] It's such an emotional story for a video game, and it just looks extraordinary, and the music in it is so powerful."
Serkis went on to talk about how games are starting to finally get the respect they deserve, and about how actors used to show disinterest in starring in games, but now up-and-coming actors have a goal of starring in one. Serkis also explained how video game engines are now a vital piece of the filmmaking process, as they are used to help pre-visualize big action sequences and give cinematographers an opportunity to figure out their shots and place light sources.
"There has always been that snobbery that video games not being anywhere near filmmaking, but that's all changing and certainly looking into the future when we have more immersive storytelling, which is what's happening," he said.
Andy Serkis has been part of a handful of video games over the years, such as various Lord of the Rings games, but he was also heavily involved with Ninja Theory's Heavenly Sword. Not only did he star in the game, but he also served as a writer and the game's motion capture director. Serkis made a name for himself as Gollum in the Lord of the Rings films, which made him a strong advocate for performance capture. He went on to play Caesar in the most recent trilogy of Planet of the Apes films, where he further showcased the power of performance capture and digital performances.
Serkis' comments align with the times as the likes of Keanu Reeves, Idris Elba, and a number of high profile actors have played prominent roles in video games. Hideo Kojima leans pretty heavily on this for games he directs, Death Stranding in particular with Norman Reedus and Lea Seydoux, lending A-list talent to Kojima Productions' style of storytelling. Now, it seems more and more like gaming is becoming an increasingly common avenue for actors in a broader sense.
... And I'm so happy about it!
