Andy Serkis to Direct New Gollum Film
Andy Serkis is set to direct the upcoming film and will also return as Gollum. The project, titled The Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum, aims to tackle issues of diversity “where relevant,” rather than adopting a purely politically correct approach to casting.
Some critics have labeled the original 90-year-old story as “too white.” Serkis, in a recent BBC interview, acknowledged these criticisms, conceding that both the books and films have been called out for a lack of diversity.
He pointed out that J.R.R. Tolkien, the creator of the Lord of the Rings universe, was not really focused on racial or cultural diversity beyond the context of British experiences. “Tolkien was heavily influenced by Norse mythology. That’s definitely present in his work,” Serkis explained. He also mentioned that the Shire, iconic as it is, represents a sort of insular community that doesn’t engage with outside influences.
Despite recognizing the critiques of Tolkien’s work, Serkis reiterated that the new film wouldn’t just be ticking boxes for the sake of political correctness. “We want to approach this topic thoughtfully. It’s only going to be included where it makes sense,” he said.
Looking at Tolkien’s perspective, one can see he was striving to create a rich literary world that provided a kind of ancient history tailored specifically for British audiences, largely anchored in a predominantly white identity. Diversity, in a modern sense, wasn’t part of his narrative goals.
Serkis has previously faced controversy, particularly related to his adaptation of George Orwell’s Animal Farm, where he was accused of shifting the story’s moral from a critique of communism to an indictment of capitalism. Despite this, that animated version found commercial success.
The Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum has been in development for several years and is scheduled for release in 2027 by Warner Bros. Original screenwriters and producers Fran Walsh and Philippa Boyens will be involved, along with returning favorites like Elijah Wood as Frodo and Ian McKellen as Gandalf.
