The “Lord of the Rings” filmmaker argued that AI is “no different from other special effects.”

Peter Jackson doesn’t ‘dislike’ AI in film but thinks Andy Serkis won’t win an Oscar because of it

The "Lord of the Rings" filmmaker argued that AI is "no different from other special effects."

By Shania Russell

Shania Russell

Shania Russell is a news writer at *, *with five years of experience. Her work has previously appeared in SlashFilm and Paste Magazine.

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May 13, 2026 5:44 p.m. ET

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Peter Jackson; Gollum in 'Lord of the Rings'. Credit:

Jason LaVeris/FilmMagic; new line

- Peter Jackson considers AI to be a tool just like any other special effect.

- The Oscar-winning filmmaker said that as long as permission is gained to use an actor's likeness, there shouldn't be an "issue."

- Jackson noted that one drawback of AI is its impact on actors delivering motion-capture performances, like Andy Serkis as Gollum.

Peter Jackson is sharing his complicated feelings about AI's role in Hollywood.

Jackson, who has been heralded as a VFX and filmmaking visionary for his work on the* Lord of the Rings* trilogy, was recently bestowed an Honorary Palme d’Or at the Cannes Film Festival. One day later, he taught a masterclass that saw him get candid about the use of AI-generated content in film.

The filmmaker shared that though the use of AI might very well "destroy the world" when it comes to cinema, he isn't wholly against it.

"I don’t dislike it at all," Jackson admitted, per Variety. "I mean, to me, it’s just a special effect. It’s no different from other special effects."

Peter Jackson attends the 2026 Cannes Film Festival.

Sameer AL-DOUMY / AFP via Getty

That said, Jackson did acknowledge that there are some dangers and drawbacks that come with combining artificial intelligence and filmmaking. The director argued that it is "absolutely critical" to protect actors from having their likeness stolen and used without their permission.

He continued, "If you’re doing an AI duplicate of somebody, like* Indiana Jones* or anyone else, as long as you’ve licensed the rights off the person who you’re showing, I don’t see the issue. It’s when people’s likenesses get stolen and usurped."

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Jackson also pointed out that the ongoing debates have seriously impacted people's perceptions of motion-capture performances, like Andy Serkis' portrayal of Gollum in the *Lord of the Rings* franchise.

"A lot of the current environment, everyone’s so worried about AI… I don’t think a Gollum-type character or a generated character has any hope for winning any awards," Jackson said. "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."

Andy Serkis' Gollum in 'The Lord of the Rings: Return of the King'.

New Line/courtesy Everett

Jackson's argument comes amid a growing number of Hollywood icons and stars embracing AI in recent months. In fact, he wasn't the only Cannes attendee to take a clear stance on the subject. Days prior, Demi Moore told reporters that she believes it's time for the industry to stop resisting AI.

She explained, "AI is here. So, to fight it is to fight something that is a battle that we will lose. To find ways in which we can work with it, I think, is a more valuable path to take."

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On the other side of the issue, several stars have been outspoken about their fear of AI being utilized and abused by studios at the expense of art and artists. Skeptics include Nicolas Cage, Scarlett Johansson, John Cusack, Guillermo del Toro, and Matthew McConaughey.

Awards bodies have also proven themselves split on AI in recent weeks. Earlier this month,  the Academy implemented new rules to fight against AI in nominated productions, while the Golden Globes altered its rules in a way that more liberally allows for the use of AI in nominated projects. The Globes' new stipulations indicate that the use of AI won't necessarily disqualify an acting performance from contention, as long as "performances submitted for acting categories [are] primarily derived from the work of the credited performer."

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Source: “EW Movie”