Andy Serkis Addresses "Lack of Diversity" Questions Surrounding THE LORD OF THE RINGS: THE HUNT FOR GOLLUM
As anticipation builds for The Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum, director and star Andy Serkis is already fielding questions that go beyond the story itself.
During a recent interview with the BBC, Serkis was asked about diversity in the upcoming Middle-earth adventure after the film's announced cast was made up entirely of white actors.
The BBC pointed to what they described as a "lack of diversity" across The Lord of the Rings film franchise and asked why The Hunt for Gollum has, so far, only revealed white actors in its principal cast.
Serkis explained that the world created by J.R.R. Tolkien has specific influences that shaped its people and cultures.
“Tolkien himself was influenced a lot by Norse mythology; there’s a lot of that feeling. The Shire feels very, very much like a very, a very white, you know…”
He went on to discuss the isolated nature of the Shire and how that factors into the story and setting. “They’re not very concerned about what goes on beyond the borders of The Shire, but they know they don’t want people coming in.”
Serkis also acknowledged that the franchise has faced criticism over the years regarding representation and said the new film won't ignore those conversations. At the same time, he made it clear that casting decisions won't be driven by simply trying to satisfy expectations.
“There have been criticisms. This particular film is somewhat acknowledging that. But we don’t think we will be doing a politically correct just-casting-for-the sake-of-casting-and-ticking-boxes version of the film. So, it’s only where relevant basically.”
The upcoming film brings several familiar faces back to Middle-earth. Ian McKellen returns as Gandalf, Elijah Wood reprises his role as Frodo, and Lee Pace is back as Thranduil. Joining the franchise are Anya Taylor-Joy, Kate Winslet, Jamie Dornan, and Leo Woodall, adding several exciting new names to the cast.
The screenplay comes from Fran Walsh and Philippa Boyens, with Phoebe Gittins and Arty Papageorgiou also contributing to the script.
Serkis is directing the film while once again stepping into the motion capture performance that made Gollum one of cinema's most unforgettable characters.
There's still a long journey ahead before audiences return to Middle-earth, and conversations around The Hunt for Gollum are already taking shape well before its release.
Whether fans agree with Serkis' comments or not, they'll no doubt continue discussing the film as more casting announcements and story details make their way online.
The Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum is scheduled to arrive in theaters on December 17, 2027.