Director Andy Serkis, known for his role as Gollum, has stated that the upcoming "Lord of the Rings" film, "The Hunt for Gollum," will resist what he describes as "politically correct" casting. Serkis, speaking with the BBC, defended the franchise's approach to diversity, suggesting it should be integrated only "where relevant" rather than as a box-ticking exercise.

Serkis explained that the universe, largely inspired by Norse mythology, has a specific aesthetic that should be respected. "The Shire feels very, very much like a very, a very white, you know… 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," he told the BBC, referencing the inhabitants' insular nature.

The casting of the new film comes as debates around diversity in the "Lord of the Rings" franchise have persisted for years. The original film trilogy, directed by Peter Jackson, also faced criticism for its predominantly White cast, with some critics arguing it employed problematic racial coding. Serkis acknowledged this past criticism but reiterated his intention to avoid "just-casting-for-the sake-of-casting-and-ticking-boxes version of the film."

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However, Serkis also noted his positive experiences with diverse casts in other projects. He recalled working on the film "Black Panther," where he was one of the few White actors. He shared that director Ryan Coogler once remarked that it was the first scene he directed with two White actors, a perspective Serkis found valuable. This experience, he suggested, offered him a different understanding of being a minority on set.

The "Lord of the Rings" franchise has seen diversity efforts in recent years, notably with Amazon's series "The Rings of Power." This show featured some of the franchise's first Black Elves and Dwarves, along with other characters of color. The inclusion drew mixed reactions, with some viewers criticizing it as overly "woke," a sentiment echoed by figures like Elon Musk. In response to such criticism, several actors from the original "Lord of the Rings" trilogy later posed for a photo wearing t-shirts with different skin-toned elf ears and the caption, "You Are All Welcome Here."

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"The Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum" is scheduled to premiere in December 2027. The film's narrative will be set between the events of "The Hobbit" films and the original "The Fellowship of the Ring."