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Ismael Cruz Cordova on the controversy after being cast as the 'first non-white elf': "I loved the nerve that I pinched. I really do. I was so excited to create something new. A lot of people speaking on behalf of Tolkien, I don't know if they understand the spirit of Tolkien"

Ismael Cruz Cordova on being cast as the 'first non-white elf': "A lot of people speaking on behalf of Tolkien, I don't know if they understand the spirit of Tolkien. His work speaks of the times."

Two years ago when Lord of the Rings: Rings of Power was released, Ismael Cruz Cordova, who plays prominent Silvan Elf and main protagonist Arondir in the show was met with plenty of vitriol and backlash over his casting on account of him being the first person of color to depict an elf in the series’ 70-year-history. Cordova, who is a Puerto Rican of African descent, noted that as soon as it was announced he was cast in the role, he was met with “pure and vicious hate speech” in his DMs “nearly every day.” And it wasn’t just attacks on social media. Joining the Entertainment Weekly “Brave Warriors” panel at San Diego Comic-Con 2024, Cordova stated, “My character is not in the lore of the Lord of the Rings, and that was an issue for some people.”

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