Serkis On “Tintin” Sequel Fate, “Batman” Filming

It has been fifteen years since Steven Spielberg’s animated feature “The Adventures of Tintin” was released, what was originally going to be the first of three proposed “Tintin” movies.

At the time, the plan was for Peter Jackson to direct the second and the pair to potentially co-direct a third, with the likely plan to adapt Herge’s two-part stories “The Seven Crystal Balls”/”Prisoners of the Sun” along with “Destination Moon”/”Explorers on the Moon”.

The first film received positive reviews and a solid gross of $374 million from a $135 million budget. A sequel was announced, but then stalled and has remained in development hell ever since.

Andy Serkis, who voiced Captain Haddock in the first film and is a long-time collaborator with Jackson, is currently out promoting the animated feature “Animal Farm” which he directed. Speaking with Collider, he reassures fans Jackson is as keen as ever to do another and the project isn’t dead:

“I love that Tintin film. I loved the process of making that film with such great filmmakers. I think Peter really, really wants to make it, so hopefully down the line.”

Jackson hasn’t directed a narrative feature film since the last of the “The Hobbit” films; the helmer has mostly done documentaries on WW1 & The Beatles since. He is producing new “The Lord of the Rings” films though including “The Hunt For Gollum” which Serkis will star in and direct. That project begins shooting next month.

Serkis confirms to the outlet that he will find time to go and film his role as Alfred Pennyworth in Matt Reeves’ “The Batman: Part II”. He says scheduling issues are being worked out now: “I’m pretty certain it’s all going to work out. Yeah, we’re working on it, but I think it’s all looking good.”

He confirms filming on “The Batman Part II” gets underway in June in the UK and while he won’t be joining them initially due to his ‘Gollum’ commitments, “by the end of the year, I will be”.