StarWar.com has just published an article on the photo shoot that Annie Leibovitz did for Vanity Fair in the coverage of Star Wars: The Force Awakens. In the piece, actor Andy Serkis’ role is officially revealed, and I don’t think anyone was prepared for his coming-out party.
"“A previously unpublished photo of Andy Serkis, also sporting mo-cap gear for his portrayal of Supreme Leader Snoke.”"
It’s been long rumored that the man behind Gollum from Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit, and Planet of the Apes, would be playing some sort of motion capture character (Mocap). Serkis joins Lupita Nyong’o, who plays the computer-generated/Mocap pirate Maz Kanata. Leibovitz photographed her the same time she caught Serkis in his mocap gear, yet understandably, Serkis was kept on the down-low.
As far as the role Serkis is playing, Supreme Leader Snoke, not much is known at this time. However, if one were to deduce from the title of his name, one might come to the conclusion that Snoke may be some type of Sith or Force sensitive creature. We know for a fact, from J.J. Abrams, that Serkis’ voice in the original trailer, is the one who is asking “Can you feel it? There has been an awakening in the Force,” so it makes perfect sense that Supreme Leader Snoke is filling the role vacated by former Supreme Chancellor Palpatine/Supreme Emperor Palpatine. Oh how the internet will speculate!
What do you think? Is Supreme Leader Snoke a Sith Lord? Or just a new breed of First Order leader? Let’s talk about it in the comments below.