The highly anticipated animated prequel to Peter Jackson’s Lord of the Rings trilogy, The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim, is set to hit theaters on December 13, 2024. The film is directed by Kenji Kamiyama and produced by New Line Cinema and Warner Bros. Animation.
Here’s everything you need to know about the movie:
Release Date
The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim was initially scheduled for release on April 12, 2024, but it has been delayed to December 13, 2024. This change is attributed to the recent actors’ strike, which affected filming across Hollywood.
Cast
The voice cast for the film includes:
- Brian Cox as Helm Hammerhand, the King of Rohan
- Miranda Otto as Éowyn, a future shieldmaiden of Rohan who narrates the film
- Gaia Wise as Hera, Helm’s daughter who helps defend their people
- Luke Pasqualino as Wulf, the ruthless leader of the Dunlendings who seeks revenge against Rohan
- Laurence Ubong Williams as Fréaláf Hildeson, Helm’s nephew and successor to the throne of Rohan
- Shaun Dooley as Freca, Wulf’s father and a Dunlending lord with Rohirric blood
- Lorraine Ashbourne, Yazdan Qafouri, Benjamin Wainwright, Michael Wildman, Jude Akuwudike, Bilal Hasna, and Janine Duvitski in undisclosed roles.
Story
The film is set 183 years before the events of the Lord of the Rings film trilogy and tells the story of Helm Hammerhand, a legendary king of Rohan, and his family as they defend their kingdom against an army of Dunlendings. The story revolves around Helm’s conflict with Wulf, the leader of the Dunlendings, who seeks revenge against Rohan for the death of his father, Freca.
Trailer
Unfortunately, no trailer has been released yet, as the animation process is still underway. However, a first look at the film’s concept art was revealed in February 2022, showcasing the influence of the Lord of the Rings film trilogy on its visuals.
Production
The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim is being produced by New Line Cinema and Warner Bros. Animation, with Philippa Boyens, who was part of the original screenwriting team for the Lord of the Rings trilogy, serving as an executive producer. The screenplay is based on a script by Jeffrey Addiss and Will Matthews and is set to be released theatrically in the United States on December 13, 2024.
Marketing
Warner Bros. Animation and New Line Cinema previewed roughly 20 minutes of its upcoming anime feature “The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim,” receiving thunderous applause during the packed presentation Tuesday at the Annecy Animation Festival. Director Kenji Kamiyama said he was inspired by not just J.R.R. Tolkien’s “The Hobbit” and “The Lord of the Rings” books, but by the films of Peter Jackson and Fran Walsh, who were confirmed as exec producers of the movie during the session.
The session featured filmmakers included Kamiyama (whose credits include the TV series “Blade Runner: Black Lotus” and “Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex”) in conversation with Andy Serkis. The new story is set nearly 200 years before Bilbo Baggins comes into contact with the ring of power and introduces key characters including Princess Héra of Rohan (Gaia Wise) and King Helm Hammerhand (Brian Cox). Serkis enthused, “The fans are going to go nuts for this”.
The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim promises to be an epic animated adventure, delving into the history of Rohan and its legendary king, Helm Hammerhand. With its star-studded voice cast and the involvement of key creatives from the original Lord of the Rings trilogy, this film is sure to captivate fans of the franchise.
Stay tuned for more updates on the release date, trailer, and marketing campaign as they become available.
