Lord of the Rings actor Andy Serkis is set to return to the world of Middle-earth to raise money for those affected by the coronavirus crisis.
Serkis – who played Gollum across Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit film adaptations – will read Tolkien's novel The Hobbit as part of a livestream, and is encouraging those who listen to donate to NHS Charities Together and baby charity Best Beginnings through a GoFundMe page.
The reading is due to start at 10am on Friday (May 8), and is estimated to take between 10 and 12 hours.
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"So many of us are struggling in isolation during the lockdown," he said.
"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 his announcement video, Serkis – also a star of the MCU, Star Wars universe and Planet of the Apes – also said that he's been working on the edit for Venom sequel Let There Be Carnage, which is currently due out in June 2021.
Related: Venom 2's Tom Hardy reveals first look at Woody Harrelson's villain
The forthcoming movie finds Tom Hardy's Eddie Brock/Venom up against Woody Harrelson's Cletus Kasady/Carnage, which to some Marvel comics enthusiasts means one thing.
It should be more than just 'carnage' – it should be Maximum Carnage, which many have spoken out about online.
From our sofas on lockdown, we'd take any title at this stage.
The Lord of the Rings TV adaptation will air on Amazon Prime, with no confirmed release date yet.
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The information in this story is accurate as of the publication date. While we are attempting to keep our content as up-to-date as possible, the situation surrounding the coronavirus pandemic continues to develop rapidly, so it's possible that some information and recommendations may have changed since publishing. For any concerns and latest advice, visit the World Health Organisation. If you're in the UK, the National Health Service can also provide useful information and support, while US users can contact the Center for Disease Control and Prevention.
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