Andy Serkis is forever associated with Gollum, the creature he portrayed (through CGI) in The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit films. Now, he’s using this connection and his talent for voice acting to narrate The Hobbit for charity. For 12 hours, Serkis will give a continuous live reading of the popular Tolkien book to raise money for NHS Charities Together and Best Beginnings.
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Andy Serkis Will Read ‘The Hobbit’ for 12 Hours Straight to Raise Money for Charity
“So many of us are struggling in isolation during the lockdown. While times are tough, I want to take you on one of the greatest fantasy adventures ever written, a 12 hour armchair marathon across Middle Earth whilst raising money for two amazing charities which are doing extraordinary work right now to help those most in need in the UK,” Serkis said on the GoFundMe campaign he set up.
Serkis is an ambassador for Best Beginning, whose mission is to support babies, toddlers, and pregnant families and new parents to prevent inequality. NHS Charities Together is the UK National Health Service’s umbrella organization.
The live reading will begin at 5:00 AM Eastern Time/2:00 AM Pacific Time on Friday, but since it’s slated to last around 12 hours, there’s no pressure to wake up at the crack of dawn. The link will be posted on the GoFundMe campaign page, and those who watch the stream are being asked to donate what they can, with the ultimate aim of raising $123,000. 