Andy Serkis, the actor behind Gollum, has defended the casting of the new Lord of the Rings spin-off film The Hunt for Gollum after it faced criticism for its lack of diversity. Serkis, who is directing and starring in the film, stated that the Shire feels 'very white' and that the production would address diversity 'where relevant' without 'ticking boxes'.
Serkis Responds to Backlash
The film, set during the events of The Fellowship of the Ring, follows Strider (Jamie Dornan) as he searches for the creature Gollum. After the main cast was announced, featuring only white actors, backlash emerged over the lack of diversity. Speaking to the BBC, Serkis acknowledged the criticism, saying, 'The Shire feels very, very much like a very, 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.'
JRR Tolkien's Influence and Casting Choices
Serkis noted that author JRR Tolkien was 'influenced by a lot of Norse mythology' and agreed there had been 'criticisms' about the casting of the original films. He said his film would be 'somewhat acknowledging that' but insisted he would not create a 'politically correct just-casting-for-the-sake-of-casting-and-ticking-boxes version' of the film. 'So it's only where relevant basically,' he added.
Returning and New Cast Members
The announced cast includes original Lord of the Rings actors Ian McKellen as Gandalf, Elijah Wood as Frodo, and Serkis reprising Gollum. Lee Pace returns as elf Thranduil from The Hobbit. Newcomers include Anya Taylor-Joy as elf Seren, Kate Winslet as Marigol, Jamie Dornan as Strider, and Leo Woodall as Halvard, a ranger working with Strider. Strider is later revealed as Aragorn, played by Viggo Mortensen in the original trilogy.
Release and Future Projects
The Hunt for Gollum is expected to be released on 17 December 2027 and will be told from Gollum's perspective. Another spin-off, Shadow of the Past, written by former talk show host Stephen Colbert, is also in development. Serkis, who has campaigned for equality in Hollywood, previously reflected on his role in Black Panther, telling Radio Times in 2018, 'Director Ryan Coogler said to me and Martin Freeman, "Guys, I have to tell you this, but this is the first scene I've directed with two white actors in it." That's an incredible perspective to find yourself in.'
