Acting legend Andy Serkis says video games are art: ‘I don’t see any difference between [games] and acting in films or on stage’

Over the last decade or so, video games have completely turned from a niche, nerdy hobby into the biggest entertainment industry. While the establishment generally continues to decline, from film studios to unsuccessful subscription-bait television productions, games appear only to grow, and now even the biggest legends in acting are saying the quiet part out loud. Andy Serkis, known for his myriad incredible performances from The Lord of the Rings' Gollum to Caesar in Planet of the Apes to Kino Loyd in Andor (seriously, watch that show), recently spoke with Variety in their Do actors know their lines? series, saying that video games have more than caught up with Hollywood and brought an end to that industry's "snobbery" concerning games. Serkis has been involved with video games to a significant extent for a long time now, and most recently played Renoir in Clair Obscur: Expedition 33. "I don't see any difference between [games] and acting in films or on stage or TV. It's exactly the same:, you approach the character and build the character in the same way," Serkis said, reflecting on his past in the industry that started with Ninja Theory's Heavenly Sword. Back in those days, video games were seen as taboo, with most actors, especially prolific ones, having an aversion to the industry as a whole and refusing to associate themselves with it. Now, Serkis explains, there are young actors coming out of drama schools who immediately want to appear in a video game.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BnMgMr5nDaw He further pointed out how most movie studios nowadays use game engines to create previews of their most cinematic or intense or action-packed shots, as it gives directors and cinematographers the ability to see their shot in action without actually shooting it. "It's an essential tool of modern filmmaking," he said. Of course, I should add that most of the CGI nowadays in film and TV is done precisely through using game engines, most notably Unreal Engine 5, which, I fear, has focused so much on providing Hollywood with the tools it needs that it's become detrimental to its gaming side of things. You know, the side that is supposedly its main focus. But I'm getting ahead of myself. Serkis added that Hollywood has generally always had a snobby stance about video games, but that things are finally "changing." "That's all changing and certainly [will] looking into the future when we have more immersive storytelling," Serkis added. Video games have become an entertainment giant these past few years, and Hollywood, struggling to remain relevant amid a dumpster fire of failed productions, has been trying its best to get in on some of the fun. The result of that is gaming shows like The Game Awards being packed with Hollywood stars that know nothing about video games, nor do they care about them, who look at this growing industry as some business opportunity to be exploited for gain. It's only natural that that would happen, considering the untold billions that the gaming industry generates, but it's also very reductive, considering how much cultural importance games have at The Game Awards and other award shows. Some of them are quoted on the daily, appear around every corner, and have become integral to modern pop culture. Hollywood hasn't had that sort of pull for a very long time, and I'm not so excited to see it encroach on what is probably the only industry left that wants to tell good, meaningful stories, except for maybe literature (but even that is on its way out). And it's good that things are changing because, after all, interactive media are the future. So let's hope they remain as valuable and meaningful as they are now. The post Acting legend Andy Serkis says video games are art: ‘I don’t see any difference between [games] and acting in films or on stage’ appeared first on Destructoid.

Jat AI

May 9, 2026 - 21:00

Acting legend Andy Serkis says video games are art: ‘I don’t see any difference between [games] and acting in films or on stage’

Over the last decade or so, video games have completely turned from a niche, nerdy hobby into the biggest entertainment industry. While the establishment generally continues to decline, from film studios to unsuccessful subscription-bait television productions, games appear only to grow, and now even the biggest legends in acting are saying the quiet part out loud.

Andy Serkis, known for his myriad incredible performances from The Lord of the Rings' Gollum to Caesar in Planet of the Apes to Kino Loyd in Andor (seriously, watch that show), recently spoke with Variety in their Do actors know their lines? series, saying that video games have more than caught up with Hollywood and brought an end to that industry's "snobbery" concerning games. Serkis has been involved with video games to a significant extent for a long time now, and most recently played Renoir in Clair Obscur: Expedition 33.

"I don't see any difference between [games] and acting in films or on stage or TV. It's exactly the same:, you approach the character and build the character in the same way," Serkis said, reflecting on his past in the industry that started with Ninja Theory's Heavenly Sword. Back in those days, video games were seen as taboo, with most actors, especially prolific ones, having an aversion to the industry as a whole and refusing to associate themselves with it. Now, Serkis explains, there are young actors coming out of drama schools who immediately want to appear in a video game.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BnMgMr5nDaw He further pointed out how most movie studios nowadays use game engines to create previews of their most cinematic or intense or action-packed shots, as it gives directors and cinematographers the ability to see their shot in action without actually shooting it. "It's an essential tool of modern filmmaking," he said.

Of course, I should add that most of the CGI nowadays in film and TV is done precisely through using game engines, most notably Unreal Engine 5, which, I fear, has focused so much on providing Hollywood with the tools it needs that it's become detrimental to its gaming side of things. You know, the side that is supposedly its main focus. But I'm getting ahead of myself.

Serkis added that Hollywood has generally always had a snobby stance about video games, but that things are finally "changing."

"That's all changing and certainly [will] looking into the future when we have more immersive storytelling," Serkis added.

Video games have become an entertainment giant these past few years, and Hollywood, struggling to remain relevant amid a dumpster fire of failed productions, has been trying its best to get in on some of the fun. The result of that is gaming shows like The Game Awards being packed with Hollywood stars that know nothing about video games, nor do they care about them, who look at this growing industry as some business opportunity to be exploited for gain.

It's only natural that that would happen, considering the untold billions that the gaming industry generates, but it's also very reductive, considering how much cultural importance games have at The Game Awards and other award shows. Some of them are quoted on the daily, appear around every corner, and have become integral to modern pop culture. Hollywood hasn't had that sort of pull for a very long time, and I'm not so excited to see it encroach on what is probably the only industry left that wants to tell good, meaningful stories, except for maybe literature (but even that is on its way out).

And it's good that things are changing because, after all, interactive media are the future. So let's hope they remain as valuable and meaningful as they are now.

The post Acting legend Andy Serkis says video games are art: ‘I don’t see any difference between [games] and acting in films or on stage’ appeared first on Destructoid.

Tags:

Dragon Quest Drops Official Date For Next Game Reveal

Jat AI Stay informed with the latest in artificial intelligence. Jat AI News Portal is your go-to source for AI trends, breakthroughs, and industry analysis. Connect with the community of technologists and business professionals shaping the future.