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Effects Company Behind ‘Endgame,’ ‘Hobbit’ to Make Its Own Films

  • Weta Digital to lean into increased demand for animated movies
  • Company has new CEO, says billionaire Sean Parker has invested

Photographer: Matt Cardy/Getty Images

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The visual-effects company famous for creating the creepy “Lord of the Rings” antagonist Gollum will start making original animated movies, as the virus-driven shutdown of production lots spurs a renewed interest in virtual filmmaking.

Weta Digital, founded by director Peter Jackson, said it will make changes to the normal animation process, which is a “long, protracted and often costly way to make movies.”