Andy Serkis, the 62-year-old actor and director known for his motion capture roles, is defending the predominantly white cast of his upcoming "Lord of the Rings" film, "The Hunt for Gollum." In an interview with BBC News, Serkis acknowledged the longstanding criticism of the franchise's lack of diversity, which dates back nearly a quarter of a century. He explained that Tolkien's work was heavily influenced by Norse mythology, and the Shire is depicted as a very insular, white community that is not concerned with the outside world. Serkis stated that while the film acknowledges these criticisms, it will not engage in "politically correct just-casting-for-the-sake-of-casting-and-ticking-boxes." He emphasized that diversity will only be included "where relevant."