Andy Serkis is to read the entirety of J.R. R. Tolkien‘s novel The Hobbit in a live-streamed charity performance.
The British actor, who starred as Gollum/Smeagol in The Hobbit and Lord of the Rings films based on Tolkien’s stories set in the fictional world of Middle-Earth, expects to read for 10-12 hours non-stop with no breaks.
Money raised from the 56-year-old’s reading will be split between NHS Charities Together, a collection of non-profits helping Britain’s National Health Service (NHS), and children’s charity Best Beginnings.
Announcing the performance in a post on the GoFundMe website, Andy wrote: “Hi everyone, Andy Serkis here. I want to invite you to come with me on an Adventure… So many of us are struggling in isolation during the lockdown.
“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 the UK: Best Beginnings and NHS Charities Together.”
Andy’s reading will take place from 10 am BST on Friday (May 8, 2020) – with a link to the Livestream posted on a GoFundMe page here on the morning of the event.
He also promised fans a “special surprise” if they hit his $123,600 (£100,000) fundraising target.
