Hollywood Legend Andy Serkis Champions Game Acting: “It’s the Same as Film!”

Ever wondered if acting in video games is just as tough, just as nuanced, and just as legitimate as acting on the silver screen or a theatre stage? Well, none other than the legendary Andy Serkis, the man behind iconic characters like Gollum and Caesar, firmly believes it is! And he thinks games like the upcoming Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 are pivotal in finally getting everyone else on board with this idea.

Serkis, who voiced Renoir in Sandfall’s upcoming RPG, couldn’t be more thrilled about Expedition 33. “I love the idea of it, and I love the visual of it. I just thought it was beautiful,” he shared in a recent interview. For him, there’s absolutely “no difference” between bringing a character to life in a game versus a film or a play. The process of understanding and building a character, he insists, remains exactly the same.

The veteran actor recalled his early days in gaming, back with Ninja Theory’s Heavenly Sword for the PlayStation 3. “At that point, actors looked down on videogames,” he explained. It was almost considered a step down for many. But fast forward to today, and the tables have completely turned! Young actors emerging from drama schools are now actively saying, “I really wanna be in a videogame.” Talk about a massive shift in perception, right?

It’s hardly a surprise to hear Serkis championing game acting with such passion. After all, he’s a pioneer in motion capture (mocap) technology, a technique absolutely central to modern video game performances. From his unforgettable portrayal of Gollum in Lord of the Rings to leading the charge as Caesar in Planet of the Apes, Serkis has shown the world the incredible power of mocap.

What’s even more fascinating is the way technology has blurred the lines between Hollywood and gaming. Serkis points out the irony: “Hollywood is using videogame engines to drive all of the previews for all of the big action sequences… but also for cinematographers to use pre-vis and to be able to place light sources or moonlight or sunlight very specifically in a shot.” Game engines, once purely for gaming, are now essential tools in big-budget film production!

While we’ve certainly come a long way from the days when stellar performances like Neil Newbon’s Astarion in Baldur’s Gate 3 were met with skepticism about being “real acting,” the snobbery hasn’t completely vanished. As recently as 2024, an Amazon Games CEO controversially stated, “for games, we don’t really have acting.” Clearly, there’s still work to be done.

However, Serkis remains optimistic. He believes the “snobbery about videogames not being anywhere near filmmaking” is rapidly changing. With the future leaning towards even more immersive storytelling experiences, gaming is undoubtedly at the forefront of this exciting evolution. It’s high time the incredible talent bringing our favourite virtual worlds to life gets the recognition they truly deserve!