Andy Serkis, known for his motion-capture performance as Gollum, has admitted that the cast of the original "Lord of the Rings" trilogy was "very white." He acknowledged these criticisms in a new interview while discussing his upcoming film, "The Hunt for Gollum."
The iconic film trilogy, based on J.R.R. Tolkien's novels, has faced a long-standing debate regarding the lack of diversity among its main characters. Serkis stated that the upcoming prequel will acknowledge these past criticisms.
"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."
Serkis explained that Tolkien's work was heavily influenced by Norse mythology, and settings like The Shire evoke a sense of a predominantly white community that is not particularly concerned with the outside world. However, he noted that the characters are aware of not wanting outsiders to enter their domain.
"The Hunt for Gollum" is currently in its casting phase. Serkis is set to reprise his role as Gollum, and Ian McKellen will return as Gandalf the Grey. The film is scheduled for release in December 2027. It will be told from Gollum's perspective and is set before the events of "The Fellowship of the Ring," featuring Gandalf sending Strider, also known as Aragorn, to find the former Hobbit.
Jamie Dornan is cast as Strider, taking over the role originally played by Viggo Mortensen. The casting has drawn mixed reactions online. Anya Taylor-Joy and Kate Winslet have also joined the cast, and de-aging technology will be employed for returning actors.
This discussion follows similar events in 2022, when stars of "The Lord of the Rings" prequel series, "The Rings of Power," faced racist trolling. Cast members, including Sir Lenny Henry, who played elves, dwarves, and Harfoots, were targeted. In response, several original trilogy actors, including Elijah Wood, Sean Astin, Billy Boyd, and Dominic Monaghan, posted messages of solidarity with the caption "You Are All Welcome Here." The official "Rings of Power" social media account also pushed back against the abuse, stating that Tolkien's world is inherently multicultural and that fantasy, including Middle-earth, has never been exclusively white.