Gollum Actor Live-Reading ‘The Hobbit’ in its Entirety

Credit: Vianney Le Caer/Invision/AP

Set aside 12 hours to tuck in and enjoy an adventurous fantasy novel.

Actor Andy Serkis, famous for his role as Gollum in the film adaptions of The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit will be conducting a live-stream reading of the latter novel for charity.

“…I want to take you on one of the greatest fantasy adventures ever written, a 12 hour armchair marathon across Middle Earth…,” Serkis posted on social media.

Called the ‘#Hobbitathon,’ Serkis will read the book from start to finish and promises to only take a break from reading in order to use the bathroom. He estimates that it will take him about 12 hours to finish the entire book.

Although the actor will not be doing impersonations of Ian McKellen’s and Martin Freeman’s voices, he will try to nod to them in some way. Instead, Serkis will find his “own version” and read the book in his voice.

The live stream already began at 10 AM BSR on May 8 on his GoFundMe page. Half of donations made will go towards NHS Charities Together while the other half will go towards Best Beginnings, a charity which Serkis is an ambassador for. Serkis’ fundraiser has already raised more than half its target amount.

“It’s not going to be a dry reading, it’s live, and there will be lots of, I’m sure, fumbles and stumbles and trips…” Serkis warned, but it will be a fun live-stream reading all the same. And better yet, fans and bookworms alike can go on an adventure to Middle Earth with the man who played Gollum himself.

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