\u201cLord of the Rings\u201d director and Gollum actor Andy Serkis drew a firm line against critics demanding more diversity in the beloved franchise, arguing that his new film will reject \u201cpolitically correct\u201d casting.<\/p>\n
Speaking with the BBC<\/a>, the filmmaker defended the predominantly White cast in the highly anticipated film The Hunt for Gollum.<\/p>\n Serkis said original author J.R.R. Tolkien\u2019s universe was widely inspired by Norse mythology and that diversity should be a focus \u201cwhere relevant,\u201d not simply to satisfy what he described as industry box-ticking.<\/p>\n \u201cThe Shire feels very, very much like a very, a very White, you know\u2026\u201d Serkis told the BBC, where they note he \u201ctrails off\u201d before continuing.<\/p>\n \u201cThey\u2019re not very concerned about what goes on beyond the borders of The Shire, but they know they don\u2019t want people coming in,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n Debate over Middle-earth\u2019s diversity has simmered for years, as the original trilogy, directed by Peter Jackson and starring Elijah Wood and Viggo Mortensen, was also accused of being too White. <\/p>\n Some critics have argued the original trilogy used problematic racial coding, associating the heroes with Whiteness while the villains relied on dark-skinned tropes.<\/p>\n Serkis acknowledged the criticism of the decades-old franchise to the BBC but said they don\u2019t plan on injecting more diversity into the films just to tick boxes.<\/p>\n \u201cThis particular film is somewhat acknowledging that. But we don\u2019t think we will be doing a politically correct just-casting-for-the sake-of-casting-and-ticking-boxes version of the film. So, it\u2019s only where relevant basically,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n The actor, however, has spoken out in favour of diverse casts in Hollywood, noting that his time as one of the few White actors in the Black Panther film helped show him what it was like on set.<\/p>\n The BBC included that in 2018, he said the film gave him a new understanding of what it meant to be the minority on set. He told the Radio Times<\/a> in 2018, \u201c[Director] Ryan Coogler said to me and Martin, \u2018Guys, I have to tell you this, but this is the first scene I\u2019ve directed with two White actors in it.\u2019 That\u2019s an incredible perspective to find yourself in.\u201d<\/p>\n The Lord of the Rings franchise expanded its diversity with Amazon\u2019s spin-off The Rings of Power, which some viewers criticised as being too \u201cwoke.\u201d <\/p>\n The show included some of the franchise\u2019s first Black Elves and Dwarves, along with other characters portrayed by actors of colour. <\/p>\n Billionaire Elon Musk even weighed in on the show, posting on X in 2022, \u201cTolkien is turning in his grave.\u201d<\/p>\n Only days after that post, several actors from the original franchise posed for a photo wearing T-shirts with different elf ears that featured different skin tones with the caption, \u201cYou Are All Welcome Here.\u201d<\/p>\n The Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum is expected to premiere in December 2027 and is set to take place between the prequel The Hobbit films and the first The Fellowship of the Ring film of the main trilogy.<\/p>\n