Andy Serkis defends lack of diversity in new Lord of the Rings film

Andy Serkis, who both directs and stars in the upcoming film The Hunt for Gollum, has addressed criticism about the film's casting choices. Set between The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings, this movie explores Gollum's past and psyche. Serkis noted that they’re steering clear of just filling roles to meet diversity quotas, pointing out Tolkien's influences from Norse mythology and mentioning that the Shire is predominantly white. The cast features Jamie Dornan, Kate Winslet, Anya Taylor-Joy, Leo Woodall, Elijah Wood, and Sir Ian McKellen, all of whom are white. He also stated he won’t direct the sequel, Shadow of the Past, written by Stephen Colbert. Recently, he helmed an animated adaptation of Animal Farm, which had a poor reception, earning just $5.5 million in the US against a $35 million budget. The film, featuring voices like Seth Rogen and Woody Harrelson, is set to hit UK theaters on July 17.