Story not diversity key for George Miller

Prolific Australian filmmaker George Miller says the diversity controversy raging in Hollywood has had an impact on him, but story will remain the key driver in casting actors in his projects.

The 70-year-old, along with 150 other nominees for the February 28 Academy Awards, met in Beverly Hills on Monday for the traditional Oscar Nominees Luncheon.

Usually talk at the event centres on the gowns and suits the nominees plan to wear to the Oscar ceremony, the excitement about their nominations and the peers they hoped to chat to and share a drink and canape with at the luncheon.

After two years of black actors being shut out of the acting nominations and calls by prominent actors and directors to boycott the Oscars, "diversity" was the hot topic.

"In terms of the next movies I hope to make, it's there in the back of your mind," Miller, nominated for best director and picture for Mad Max: Fury Road, told reporters.

"I think casting is story driven, but I think what's really good about what's happened is, if there's a positive to come out of it, it's alerted everybody to the problem."

Sylvester Stallone, who scored a supporting actor nomination for Creed, reprising the Rocky Balboa role he was first nominated for 39 years ago, said he asked the film's black director Ryan Coogler if he should boycott the Oscars.

Coogler and Creed's star Michael B Jordan were both snubbed for Oscar nominations.

"I said, 'If you want me to go I'll go. If you don't, I won't'," Stallone, recalling the conversation with Coogler, told reporters.

"He said, 'No, we want you to go'."

Miller, actress Cate Blanchett and the crew of Mad Max: Fury Road helped Australia collect a record 15 nominations for this year's Oscars.

While Blanchett did not attend the luncheon, other A-list nominees at the Beverly Hilton included Leonardo DiCaprio, Jennifer Lawrence, Matt Damon, Brie Larson, Rooney Mara, Rachel McAdams, Mark Ruffalo and Alejandro Inarritu.