January 23, 2009 11:46

Gollum actor to play Ian Dury in film biopic

'Lord Of The Rings' star Andy Serkis confirms that the project is underway

The actor who played Gollum in Peter Jackson's 'Lord Of The Ring''s films is set to play Ian Dury in a forthcoming biopic of the iconic singer's life.

Andy Serkis, who also starred in Jackson's 2005 remake of 'King Kong', said filming for the production is set to begin in April.

He told Cinema Blend that playing the role of Dury, who suffered from polio and walked with the aid of a stick, is something he's looking forward to.

"He's an amazing character, a real poet. He sort of came up out of the British pub rock scene. He sort of pre-empted the Sex Pistols and the whole punk movement," he said.

"And he was a polio sufferer, so he basically didn't have much use of his left leg or his left arm. The chance of being any kind of rock star is like zero [back then]. He was one of the first disabled punk rockers ever. I'm really looking forward to that."

Dury died in 2000, aged 57, after suffering from cancer.

Serkis is set to reprise his role as Gollum in 'The Hobbit', set to be released in 2010.