Andy Serkis Discusses Animal Farm, George Orwell, and AI in Hollywood

Director Andy Serkis’ animated adaptation of “Animal Farm” introduces significant changes from George Orwell’s original satire. Notably, the film has more humor, including fart jokes, and a new main character, a piglet named Lucky, voiced by Gaten Matarazzo. In an interview with Mashable, Serkis mentioned that Lucky was created to make the story accessible to younger audiences. He explained that the book is objective and lacks a central character, but the movie needed a perspective. By viewing the world of “Animal Farm” through young Lucky’s eyes, who becomes entangled in the struggle for farm control between Snowball and Napoleon, the adaptation parallels “A Bronx Tale” with its theme of moral choice. Serkis wants young viewers to see themselves in Lucky and feel accountable. The full video interview discusses Serkis’ long journey to bring “Animal Farm” to the screen, Orwell’s lasting impact, and discusses AI’s influence on film. Part two of the interview will address Serkis’ upcoming project, “Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum.” “Animal Farm” is currently in theaters.