Sinister Gollum: New AI Art Unleashes Menacing Lord of the Rings Creature
New Lord of the Rings AI art presents a more menacing look for Gollum, the iconic character whose mind and body were twisted by the corrupting One Ring Unlike his previous versions, this reimagined Gollum is sure to send shivers down your spine
A fresh depiction of Gollum from Lord of the Rings has emerged, courtesy of an AI artist, and this version looks more ominous than the one seen on the big screen. While Gollum was first introduced in J.R.R. Tolkien's 1937 novel The Hobbit, most people are familiar with the character portrayed by Andy Serkis in Peter Jackson's The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit trilogies. Gollum, who was once a hobbit named Sméagol, was heavily impacted by the One Ring, which twisted both his physical form and his mind. Jose Luis Rodriguez Mena's AI art presents a fresh take on the character's appearance, providing us with a glimpse of what he may have looked like in the final films.
This new iteration of Gollum is markedly more goblin-like than the one brought to life by Serkis' motion-capture performance. His appearance is more terrifying, and he looks every bit the scheming and tormented creature that endured the One Ring's torments for years on end. As depicted in his watery cave, this version of Gollum is a sight to behold, showcasing just how far the character's design has evolved over the years.
Nowadays, it is impossible to imagine Tolkien's Gollum without picturing the cinematic version brought to life by Andy Serkis. His portrayal of the twisted and pitiful creature has been highly praised, cementing his version as the definitive one in pop culture. However, prior to Serkis' performance, Gollum was often depicted differently on screen.
Ever since Gene Deitch's 1967 animated short film The Hobbit, Gollum has been depicted in various forms, including a insect-like creature dubbed Goloom. Later, the Japanese studio Topcraft presented a frog-like version of Gollum in Rankin/Bass's 1977 animated adaptation of The Hobbit. However, it wasn't until Peter Jackson's Lord of the Rings trilogy that Gollum's appearance became iconic, with Andy Serkis' motion-capture performance serving as the basis for his distinctive design. Even newer representations, such as the upcoming Lord of the Rings: Gollum game, continue to reference Serkis' portrayal of the character.
