Serkis to play Einstein in BBC drama

Andy Serkis
Andy Serkis - best known as Gollum. Photo: AP

The BBC is teaming up with HBO once again to co-produce a drama about Albert Einstein and the creation of the theory of relativity, starring Andy Serkis and David Tennant.

Einstein and Eddington will star Serkis, best known for his portrayal of Gollum in the Lord of the Rings movies, as the celebrated German-born scientist, according to Hollywood Reporter.

Tennant will play British scientist Sir Arthur Eddington, who was the first astrophysicist to understand Einstein's theory of general relativity.

German scientific developments from the early part of the 20th century were not widely known because of the first world war and Sir Arthur helped to spread the word about the theory of general relativity to the English speaking world in a 1919 article.

Einstein and Eddington is to be written by Peter Moffat, whose previous credits include Hawking, Cambridge Spies and North Square.

The drama is being made by UK independent producer Company Television.

Philip Martin, who previously worked with Mr Moffat on Hawking, will direct, with Mark Pybus producing. Company co-founder George Faber is executive producing.

Previous BBC/HBO co-productions include Five Days, Extras, Rome, Winston Churchill biopic, The Gathering Storm and Band of Brothers.

