Andy Serkis, the actor behind the motion-capture performance of Gollum, has acknowledged criticisms regarding the lack of diversity in the original "Lord of the Rings" film trilogy, stating the cast was "very white." Serkis indicated that these criticisms are being considered for his upcoming prequel, "The Hunt for Gollum."
"Yes, there have been criticisms," Serkis told the BBC. "This particular film is somewhat acknowledging that. But I 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 where relevant basically."
The original trilogy, concluding with "The Return of the King," received numerous accolades, including 11 Oscars. However, it has faced ongoing criticism for its predominantly white cast in key roles.
Serkis also commented on the cultural inspirations for Tolkien's world, noting, "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 further explained that characters like those from the Shire were "not very concerned about what goes on beyond their borders," but are resistant to outsiders.
Filming for "The Hunt for Gollum" is currently underway. Serkis is set to reprise his role as Gollum, and Ian McKellen will return as Gandalf the Grey. The film, slated for a December 2027 release, will be told from Gollum's perspective and is set before the events of "The Fellowship of the Ring."
Jamie Dornan is cast as Strider, also known as Aragorn, taking over the role originally played by Viggo Mortensen. The casting of Dornan has drawn mixed reactions online. Anya Taylor-Joy and Kate Winslet are also part of the cast. De-aging technology will be utilized for returning actors.
This discussion about diversity follows similar controversies surrounding "The Rings of Power," the "Lord of the Rings" prequel series. In 2022, cast members of that series faced racist trolling, prompting solidarity from original trilogy stars like Elijah Wood and Sean Astin, who posted "You Are All Welcome Here" on social media. The show's official social media account also pushed back against the abuse, asserting that J.R.R. Tolkien's world is inherently multicultural and that "Middle-earth is not all white."