The debate around artificial intelligence in Hollywood just got a major new voice. Peter Jackson, the director behind the Lord of the Rings trilogy, has come out in support of using AI in movies. He says the technology is just another filmmaking tool. But he also made a strong statement about something that has bothered fans for years. According to Jackson, the fear of AI is the real reason Andy Serkis never won major awards for playing Gollum.
Jackson spoke at a masterclass during the Cannes Film Festival in May 2026. He had just received an Honorary Palme d’Or. The filmmaker did not hold back his thoughts on the hot topic of artificial intelligence in cinema.
Jackson Calls AI ‘Just a Special Effect’
Many people in Hollywood are worried about AI taking over. But Jackson is not one of them. He told the audience at Cannes that he does not dislike AI at all when it comes to making films.
“I mean, to me, it’s just a special effect. It’s no different from other special effects.” – Peter Jackson
Jackson compared AI to older movie magic techniques. He mentioned stop-motion animation from movies like King Kong. He said that if animators could move rubber creatures frame by frame, then artists should be able to use AI software to create images. For Jackson, the tool does not matter. What matters is the person using it. He believes good filmmaking always comes down to imagination and originality.
However, the director made one thing very clear. He strongly supports protecting actors’ rights. Jackson said there is no problem with using AI to recreate an actor’s likeness, like Indiana Jones, as long as the filmmakers have permission and pay for the rights. He said the real issue is when people steal an actor’s likeness without asking. “You don’t AI an actor without their own approval,” he stated firmly.
Why Andy Serkis Never Got an Oscar for Gollum
The most talked about moment from Jackson’s talk was his comments on awards. Andy Serkis played Gollum in the Lord of the Rings movies. He wore a motion-capture suit and gave a physical performance that changed cinema forever. Yet, Serkis never won an Oscar. He was not even nominated.
Jackson believes the current worry over AI is to blame. He said that people in the industry now group motion-capture characters with AI-generated images. This hurts actors like Serkis who do real work.
“I don’t think a Gollum-type character or a generated character has any hope for winning any awards. Which is a bit unfair, especially in the Andy Serkis case where it’s not an AI-generated performance, it’s a human-generated performance 100% of the way.” – Peter Jackson
Jackson pointed out that this comes at a bad time. The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences recently banned AI performances and scripts from Oscar consideration. The new rules state that only acting done by humans can win awards. While this rule is meant to protect real artists, Jackson argues that it creates confusion. He says voters and audiences might now see Gollum as just a digital creation, forgetting that a real person (Andy Serkis) did all the acting, voice work, and movement.
The Hunt for Gollum: Serkis Takes the Lead
Jackson also gave updates on the new Lord of the Rings movie called The Hunt for Gollum. This time, he is not directing. Instead, Andy Serkis will both star as Gollum and direct the film. Jackson explained why he made this choice. He said the new movie is about Gollum’s psychology and addiction. He thought about who knows the character best. The answer was always Serkis.
“I thought the most exciting version of this movie is if Andy Serkis makes it,” Jackson said.
The film is scheduled to release in theaters on December 17, 2027. Jackson will stay involved as a producer alongside his longtime partners Fran Walsh and Philippa Boyens.
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A Special Moment at Cannes with Elijah Wood
The Cannes Film Festival gave Jackson a big honor. Elijah Wood, who played Frodo Baggins in the trilogy, presented the director with his Honorary Palme d’Or. Wood spoke warmly about his old friend and collaborator.
“You showed the world something it had never seen before, and nothing was ever the same,” Wood told Jackson during the opening ceremony on May 12, 2026. He added that Jackson helped build an entirely new filmmaking culture “at the far edge of the world” in New Zealand.
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The festival runs from May 12 to May 23, 2026. Jackson’s comments have already started a big conversation about the future of acting and awards in the age of AI.
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