Andy Serkis to play a character in Avengers: Age of Ultron?

June 30th 2014, 12:07pm

Last Updated on August 5, 2021

While Mark Ruffalo did some performance capture for his role as the Hulk in THE AVENGERS, we knew that his work would be taken to the next level in AVENGERS: AGE OF ULTRON, as he’s enlisted the help of veteran mo-cap performer Andy Serkis (DAWN OF THE PLANET OF THE APES, THE LORD OF THE RINGS: THE TWO TOWERS). Presumably just there in a mentoring capacity, Mr. Serkis recently suggested that he might have a little more to do than just teach Mark Ruffalo the ropes.

Regarding his talents being used from both AGE OF ULTRON and STAR WARS:

The Imaginarium is the performance capture consultant, and I’m playing a role. On ‘The Avengers,’ I’ve been working closely with Mark Ruffalo.

On whether or not we’ll actually see Andy’s face:

I’m not at liberty to mention. But it’s all the same to me. I’ve never drawn a distinction when playing a role, whether it be live action or performance capture. Acting is acting. It’s just basically what you wear to the set that’s different.

On why he was brought in to coach Mark Ruffalo this time around:

Performance capture was used on the previous “Hulk,” but not to the same extent Mark is using it now. There are tools and ways of working with an actor that makes them feel that they own the character. And a character the size of the Hulk needs ownership, which Mark has now.

When you think about it, having Andy play a role makes sense. After all, why hire one of the most talented (and certainly most popular) mo-cap artists and not give him something to do in the film? In regards to AGE OF ULTRON, I wonder if he is just being coy about the whole thing. Perhaps a cameo, or maybe something more? We’ve heard that James Spader will be donning the mo-cap outfit for some of his work as the titular ULTRON, so what’s left for Mr. Serkis?

AVENGERS: AGE OF ULTRON will be out on May 1, 2014, but you can check out Andy Serkis‘ most recent work in DAWN OF THE PLANET OF THE APES, which is getting some great advance praise, on July 11, 2014.