New ‘Lord of the Rings’ Director Addresses Lack of Diversity in Cast

Movie-goers should not expect the new “Lord of the Rings” film to have much diversity  — and the director is not apologizing for it.

Andy Serkis said the movie will not have “politically correct” casting. Serkis is directing “💍The Lord of The Rings: The Hunt for Gollum” and portrayed Gollum in Peter Jackson’s film trilogy.

He told the BBC that J.R.R. Tolkien’s fantasy world was inspired by Norse mythology and that diversity would be included only “where relevant.”

“Serkis said Tolkien’s depiction of the Shire reflects its inspiration in Northern European folklore,” per the Daily Wire.

“The Shire feels very, very much like a very, a very white, you know …” he said. “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.”

The upcoming movie features a predominantly white cast, including Jamie Dornan, Anya Taylor-Joy, Kate Winslet, and Leo Woodall, olong with returning stars Elijah Wood and Sir Ian McKellen. 

Serkis also acknowledged criticism of the original franchise. He added diversity would be included only where it fit the story.  

“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,” Serkis said.

The original “Lord of the Rings” trilogy faced criticism from some commentators over its lack of racial diversity. Amazon’s later adaptation, “The Rings of Power,” drew criticism from others for introducing race-swapped elves, dwarves, and other characters. 

Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk posted on X in 2022, saying “Tolkien is turning in his grave.”

In a 2018 interview with Radio Times, Serkis said his experience as one of the few white actors filming “The Black Panther” helped him understand how minorities feel on set. 

“[Director] Ryan Coogler said to me and Martin, ‘Guys, I have to tell you this, but this is the first scene I’ve directed with two White actors in it,’” Serkis said. “That’s an incredible perspective to find yourself in.”

“💍The Lord of The Rings: The Hunt for Gollum” is expected to be released in December 2027.