{"id":2042895,"date":"2026-07-14T11:06:59","date_gmt":"2026-07-14T08:06:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/?p=2042895"},"modified":"2026-07-14T11:06:59","modified_gmt":"2026-07-14T08:06:59","slug":"andy-serkis-explains-lack-of-diversity-in-new-lord-of-the-rings-film-the-hunt-for-gollum","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/?p=2042895","title":{"rendered":"Andy Serkis explains lack of diversity in new Lord Of The Rings film \u2018The Hunt For Gollum\u2019"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>[analyse_image type=&#8221;featured&#8221; src=&#8221;https:\/\/www.nme.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Andy-Serkis-Comic-Con-Appearance.jpg&#8221;]<\/p>\n<article id=\"template-id-2749694\" class=\"post-2749694 tdb_templates type-tdb_templates status-publish post\">\n<div id=\"tdi_65\" class=\"tdc-zone\">\n<div class=\"tdc_zone tdi_66  wpb_row td-pb-row\">\n<div id=\"tdi_67\" class=\"tdc-row stretch_row_1400 td-stretch-content\">\n<div class=\"vc_row tdi_68  wpb_row td-pb-row\">\n<div class=\"vc_column tdi_70  wpb_column vc_column_container tdc-column td-pb-span12\">\n<div class=\"wpb_wrapper\">\n<div class=\"td_block_wrap tdb_breadcrumbs tdi_71 td-pb-border-top td_block_template_2 tdb-breadcrumbs \" data-td-block-uid=\"tdi_71\">\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span>News<\/span><span>Film News<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"td_block_wrap tdb_title tdi_72 tdb-single-title td-pb-border-top td_block_template_2\" data-td-block-uid=\"tdi_72\">\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<h1 class=\"tdb-title-text\">Andy Serkis explains lack of diversity in new Lord Of The Rings film \u2018The Hunt For Gollum\u2019<\/h1>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"td_block_wrap tdb_single_subtitle tdi_73 td-pb-border-top td_block_template_2\" data-td-block-uid=\"tdi_73\">\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<p>The franchise has been criticised for predominantly white casts<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"td_block_wrap tdb_single_author tdi_75 td-pb-border-top td_block_template_2 tdb-post-meta\" data-td-block-uid=\"tdi_75\">\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div class=\"tdb-author-name-wrap\"><span class=\"tdb-author-by\">By<\/span> Victoria Luxford<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"td_block_wrap tdb_single_date tdi_76 td-pb-border-top td_block_template_2 tdb-post-meta\" data-td-block-uid=\"tdi_76\">\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><time class=\"entry-date updated td-module-date\" datetime=\"2026-07-14T12:06:59+01:00\">14th July 2026<\/time><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"tdi_77\" class=\"tdc-row stretch_row_1400 td-stretch-content\">\n<div class=\"vc_row tdi_78  wpb_row td-pb-row\">\n<div class=\"vc_column tdi_80  wpb_column vc_column_container tdc-column td-pb-span8\">\n<div class=\"wpb_wrapper\">\n<div class=\"td_block_wrap tdb_single_featured_image tdi_81 tdb-content-horiz-left td-pb-border-top td_block_template_2\" data-td-block-uid=\"tdi_81\">\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<figure><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"696\" height=\"442\" class=\"entry-thumb\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nme.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Andy-Serkis-Comic-Con-Appearance-696x442.jpg\" alt=\"Lord Of The Rings\" title=\"Andy Serkis Comic Con Appearance\"><figcaption class=\"tdb-caption-text\">Andy Serkis. CREDIT: Daniel Boczarski\/Getty Images<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"vc_row_inner tdi_83 article-content-row vc_row vc_inner wpb_row td-pb-row\">\n<div class=\"vc_column_inner tdi_85  wpb_column vc_column_container tdc-inner-column td-pb-span12\">\n<div class=\"vc_column-inner\">\n<div class=\"wpb_wrapper\">\n<div class=\"td_block_wrap tdb_single_content tdi_86 td-pb-border-top td_block_template_2 td-post-content tagdiv-type\" data-td-block-uid=\"tdi_86\">\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<p>Andy Serkis has addressed issues of diversity in his new <em>Lord Of The Rings<\/em> film, <em>The Hunt For Gollum.<\/em><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>READ MORE: Soundtrack Of My Life: Elijah Wood<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>The new movie is set before 2001\u2019s <em>The Fellowship Of The Ring<\/em>, and sees Serkis reprise the role of Gollum, as well as directing the film. Due out in 2027, the film stars original cast members Ian McKellen and Elijah Wood join newcomers Jamie Dornan, Kate Winslet, and Anya Taylor-Joy. As yet, there are no non-white actors announced for the blockbuster.<\/p>\n<div class=\"td-a-ad id_inline_ad0 id_ad_content-horiz-center\"><span class=\"td-adspot-title\">Advertisement<\/span><\/div>\n<p>It continues a running criticism of both the <em>Lord Of The Rings<\/em> and <em>Hobbit<\/em> trilogies, which featured predominantly white casts. Speaking to<em> BBC News<\/em>, Serkis addressed the issue.<\/p>\n<p>\u201c[Author J.R.R.] Tolkien himself was influenced a lot by Norse mythology, there\u2019s a lot of that feeling.\u201d he said. \u201cThe Shire feels very, very much like a very, a very white, you know\u2026 They\u2019re not very concerned about what goes on beyond the borders of The Shire, but they know they don\u2019t want people coming in.\u201d<\/p>\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"'The Rings Of Power': meet the cast of Amazon's 'The Lord Of The Rings' TV series\" width=\"696\" height=\"392\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/KMyGUMgzF2I?feature=oembed&amp;enablejsapi=1\" frameborder allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<p>He continued: \u201cYes, there have been criticisms [about diversity]. This particular film is somewhat acknowledging that. But we don\u2019t think we will be doing a politically correct just-casting-for-the sake-of-casting-and-ticking-boxes version of the film. So, it\u2019s only where relevant basically.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Earlier in the interview, the star also teased what fans can expect from the movie. \u201cIt sits absolutely between <em>The Hobbit<\/em> and <em>The Lord of the Rings<\/em> trilogies, and books in fact,\u201d he explained. \u201cIt is very much a deep dive into the psychology and history of Gollum before he became Gollum, but also with a very burning question from Gandalf about what the potential origin of this ring that Bilbo Baggins has is. The hunt takes place in two different dimensions really and that\u2019s about as far as I can say at the moment.\u201d<\/p>\n<div class=\"td-a-ad id_inline_ad1 id_ad_content-horiz-center\">\n<h5 class=\"taboola-mid-article-title\">Recommended<\/h5>\n<\/div>\n<p>As well as <em>The Hunt For Gollum<\/em>, another spin-off, <em>Shadow Of The Past<\/em>, is being co-written by Stephen Colbert. Elsewhere, original trilogy director Peter Jackson revealed he was in talks to adapt Tolkein\u2019s book <em>The Silmarillion<\/em>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"td_block_wrap tdb_single_tags tdi_87 td-pb-border-top td_block_template_2\" data-td-block-uid=\"tdi_87\">\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<ul class=\"tdb-tags\">\n<li><span>Related Topics<\/span><\/li>\n<li>Anya Taylor-Joy<\/li>\n<li>Ian McKellen<\/li>\n<li>Jamie Dornan<\/li>\n<li>Kate Winslet<\/li>\n<li>Lord of the Rings<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"wpb_wrapper td_block_wrap vc_raw_html tdi_89 \">\n<div class=\"td-fix-index\">\n<h3>You May Also Like<\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"vc_column tdi_91  wpb_column vc_column_container tdc-column td-pb-span4 td-is-sticky\">\n<div class=\"wpb_wrapper\">\n<div class=\"td-a-rec td-a-rec-id-sidebar  tdi_92 td_block_template_2\"><span 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his new <em>Lord Of The Rings<\/em> film, <em>The Hunt For Gollum.<\/em><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>READ MORE: Soundtrack Of My Life: Elijah Wood<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>The new movie is set before 2001\u2019s <em>The Fellowship Of The Ring<\/em>, and sees Serkis reprise the role of Gollum, as well as directing the film. Due out in 2027, the film stars original cast members Ian McKellen and Elijah Wood join newcomers Jamie Dornan, Kate Winslet, and Anya Taylor-Joy. As yet, there are no non-white actors announced for the blockbuster.<\/p>\n<div class=\"td-a-ad id_inline_ad0 id_ad_content-horiz-center\"><span class=\"td-adspot-title\">Advertisement<\/span><\/div>\n<p>It continues a running criticism of both the <em>Lord Of The Rings<\/em> and <em>Hobbit<\/em> trilogies, which featured predominantly white casts. Speaking to<em> BBC News<\/em>, Serkis addressed the issue.<\/p>\n<p>\u201c[Author J.R.R.] Tolkien himself was influenced a lot by Norse mythology, there\u2019s a lot of that feeling.\u201d he said. \u201cThe Shire feels very, very much like a very, a very white, you know\u2026 They\u2019re not very concerned about what goes on beyond the borders of The Shire, but they know they don\u2019t want people coming in.\u201d<\/p>\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"'The Rings Of Power': meet the cast of Amazon's 'The Lord Of The Rings' TV series\" width=\"696\" height=\"392\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/KMyGUMgzF2I?feature=oembed&amp;enablejsapi=1\" frameborder allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<p>He continued: \u201cYes, there have been criticisms [about diversity]. This particular film is somewhat acknowledging that. But we don\u2019t think we will be doing a politically correct just-casting-for-the sake-of-casting-and-ticking-boxes version of the film. So, it\u2019s only where relevant basically.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Earlier in the interview, the star also teased what fans can expect from the movie. \u201cIt sits absolutely between <em>The Hobbit<\/em> and <em>The Lord of the Rings<\/em> trilogies, and books in fact,\u201d he explained. \u201cIt is very much a deep dive into the psychology and history of Gollum before he became Gollum, but also with a very burning question from Gandalf about what the potential origin of this ring that Bilbo Baggins has is. The hunt takes place in two different dimensions really and that\u2019s about as far as I can say at the moment.\u201d<\/p>\n<div class=\"td-a-ad id_inline_ad1 id_ad_content-horiz-center\">\n<h5 class=\"taboola-mid-article-title\">Recommended<\/h5>\n<\/div>\n<p>As well as <em>The Hunt For Gollum<\/em>, another spin-off, <em>Shadow Of The Past<\/em>, is being co-written by Stephen Colbert. Elsewhere, original trilogy director Peter Jackson revealed he was in talks to adapt Tolkein\u2019s book <em>The Silmarillion<\/em>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>[analyse_source url=&#8221;https:\/\/www.nme.com\/news\/film\/andy-serkis-explains-lack-of-diversity-in-new-lord-of-the-rings-film-the-hunt-for-gollum-3956894&#8243;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>[analyse_image type=&#8221;featured&#8221; src=&#8221;https:\/\/www.nme.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Andy-Serkis-Comic-Con-Appearance.jpg&#8221;] NewsFilm News Andy Serkis explains lack of diversity in new Lord Of The Rings film \u2018The Hunt For Gollum\u2019 The franchise has been criticised for predominantly white casts By Victoria Luxford 14th July 2026 Andy Serkis. CREDIT: Daniel Boczarski\/Getty Images Andy Serkis has addressed issues of diversity in his new Lord Of [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[226,78],"class_list":["post-2042895","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-politics","tag-crawlmanager","tag-nme-com"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2042895","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=2042895"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2042895\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=2042895"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=2042895"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=2042895"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}