Andy Serkis's Directorial Debut Arrives This Year
Chris here. With War for the Planet of the Apes arriving in theatres next weekend, we're already seeing the reawakened thinkpieces about an honorary Oscar for Andy Serkis that comes with what seems every motion capture performance from the actor. But now we can add another level to his multi-hyphenate talent as the risk-taker is now taking up the directing reigns with this fall's Breathe.
The true story tragic romance stars recent Oscar nominee Andrew Garfield as the polio-stricken Robin Cavendish, with The Crown's Claire Foy as his wife Diana. This is technically Serkis's second directorial effort, with his take on The Jungle Book filmed prior and now in CGI-heavy post-production. Jungle is maybe a more expected journey for the motion capture virtuoso, so Breathe makes a somewhat more intriguing choice despite it's quite familiar plot. Perhaps it's the film's spirit of innovation that calls to him, as Cavendish helped create a wheelchair equipped with a respirator.
Breathe will open the London Film Festival and open stateside on October 13. Take a look at the trailer and tell us your thoughts in the comments!