Why the Upcoming Lord of the Rings Movie Needs to Learn from The Hobbit, Yet Promises to Surpass It

The upcoming Lord of the Rings prequel, The Hunt for Gollum, presents a fascinating dilemma—the challenge of convincingly reviving characters who have notably aged since viewers last saw them in the original trilogy. While earlier prequels like The Hobbit tried to tackle this by integrating a mix of practical effects and CGI, the results garnered a variety of audience reactions, particularly concerning the altered looks of key characters, such as Legolas.

This pressing issue raises concerns about the potential for the “uncanny valley”effect, especially given that The Hunt for Gollum, set approximately sixty years prior to The Lord of the Rings, may rely heavily on digital de-aging techniques. However, as long as the narrative is engaging and the performances resonate, the age of the actors may not be a significant drawback. The situation becomes more complex for characters like the elves, where youthful appearances are critical to their ethereal nature.

De-Aging Technology: Essential for The Hunt For Gollum

Analyzing The Hobbit’s Use of De-Aging Techniques

Gollum in The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey

The Hunt For Gollum aims to incorporate as many original cast members from the Lord of the Rings series as possible, a strategy that was not fully realized in The Hobbit films. This latter trilogy introduced many new faces while reuniting select actors from the original films, such as Elijah Wood, Ian McKellen, and Andy Serkis. Although Gollum, due to his CGI nature, remained unaffected by aging, other characters underwent a variety of de-aging effects, which received mixed reviews.

In the The Hobbit trilogy, filmmakers employed an array of methods like face taping, specialized makeup, lighting adjustments, and CGI to rejuvenate the appearances of the actors. Unfortunately, this led to a perception among viewers that the series had a “fake”look, especially compared to the more grounded aesthetic of The Lord of the Rings. This disparity can be partly attributed to the film’s framing—48 fps instead of the traditional 24 fps, resulting in a smoother, yet less immersive visual experience. Furthermore, The Hobbit was filmed in 3D, necessitating a brighter lighting scheme that altered the exposure and color grading throughout the trilogy.

Ensuring The Next Lord of the Rings Movie Doesn’t Repeat Hobbit’s Legolas Issues

A Gritty Aesthetic for Gollum’s Journey

Comparison of The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings

Particularly concerning was the portrayal of Legolas in The Hobbit films—many fans found his appearance strikingly odd. The stylistic choices in this trilogy, while practical for the narrative’s more vibrant, adventurous tone, negatively impacted how the original cast was perceived. The darker themes of The Lord of the Rings and its more subdued aesthetic are essential to understanding the deeper emotional connections characters evoke. The aging process for the cast is inevitable, but various digital enhancements sometimes resulted in visages that felt artificial.

While Orlando Bloom’s fluctuating use of contact lenses added a natural intensity to Legolas’s character in The Lord of the Rings, the reliance on CGI for a consistent eye color in The Hobbit led to an unsettling portrayal. Unlike the original trilogy, the lighting in the prequels required heavier makeup, leaving Bloom looking more bronzed and less authentic than before. This shift detracted from the character’s established image and connection with audiences.

Optimism Surrounds The Hunt for Gollum’s Return of Characters

Excitement from Andy Serkis About De-Aging Technology

Aragorn with Anduril in Return of the King

Orlando Bloom has recently shared promising developments regarding his return as Legolas in The Hunt for Gollum. In a conversation with Variety, Bloom expressed his eagerness about collaborating with Andy Serkis on visual effects:

“I don’t know how they’d do it. I guess with AI you can do anything these days. But, if Pete [Peter Jackson] says jump, I say, ‘How high?’ I mean, he started my whole career. I really don’t know what [they are planning].I did speak to Andy [Serkis] and he did say they were thinking about how to do things. I was like, ‘How would that even work?’ And he was like, ‘Well, AI!’ and I was like, ‘Oh, OK!’ It was a pretty magical time in my life, and it’s one of those things where there’s not a downside to it.”

While some may be apprehensive regarding AI’s role in the creative process, Serkis’s comments suggest he aims to explore innovative technologies. The advancement in de-aging technology from 2023 presents promising opportunities, especially with industry leaders like Weta Workshop at the forefront. Given the prevailing audience disinterest in 3D formats that plagued The Hobbit, there is hope that The Hunt for Gollum will adopt a more cohesive and natural look, echoing the darker tones of the original trilogy.

With both Serkis and Jackson’s talents, the spirit of The Lord of the Rings can be honored successfully. However, skepticism lingers. Notably, in an interview with GQ, Viggo Mortensen conveyed caution, stating he would reprise his role as Aragorn only if it felt appropriate considering his age at the time of filming.

Sources: Variety, GQ

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