Serkis Defends White Casting for New LOTR Prequel, Promises Not a Box-Ticking Approach

Andy Serkis says The Hunt for Gollum will somewhat acknowledge the Lord of the Rings franchise’s lack of diversity but won’t be a politically correct, casting-for-the-sake-of-box-ticking effort; the announced cast so far is all white (including Dornan, Taylor-Joy, Winslet, Pace, Woodall, Wood, McKellen) with Serkis returning as Gollum, and he notes Tolkien’s Norse influence and The Shire’s insularity as context. The Rings of Power backlash over diverse casting is referenced, with supporters condemning racism. The film opens December 17, 2027.