The War of the Rohirrim cast and crew explain what makes new Lord of the Rings movie special

As a lifelong fan of Middle-earth, I must admit that my heart skips a beat every time there’s a new addition to Tolkien’s epic saga. The upcoming animated feature, “The War of the Rohirrim,” is no exception. Set 100 years before the original trilogy, this film promises to delve into the conflict that led to the construction of Helm’s Deep – a fortress that played a pivotal role in “The Two Towers.

In approximately two weeks, a new animated film titled “The War of the Rohirrim” based on the world of “The Lord of the Rings” will be released in theaters. This movie takes place around 100 years before the main storyline and focuses on a conflict which eventually results in the creation of Helm’s Deep, a fortress that played a significant role in Peter Jackson’s movie “The Two Towers“. As this is less well-known material within the lore, you might be wondering why producer Philippa Boyens, who co-wrote the original “Lord of the Rings” film trilogy with Peter Jackson and Fran Walsh, thought it was suitable for a movie adaptation.

Philpa Boyens stated in the latest SFX Magazine that we were exploring the possibility for ourselves, she said. “Is it feasible to return to Middle-earth? Is it appropriate? It has been a delightful experience to return. I’ve reignited my affection for the entire narrative and the world, and moreover, I’ve rediscovered the brilliance of Professor Tolkien’s thinking process all over again.

He didn’t just write books. He wrote an entire mythos. So his work can hold a lot. This is just another contribution to that world he created. In the end, it’s up to the audience – as long as people want to engage with that world, there’s going to be dramatic works put out there.

Nowadays, there’s an abundance of fresh content related to “The Lord of the Rings,” such as Amazon Prime Video’s show, “The Rings of Power.” As a longtime fan of the series, I find myself intrigued by “The War of the Rohirrim,” but also apprehensive. Will it maintain enough similarities with the original story to seem like it belongs in the same universe while still being distinctive enough to thrive independently? It’s quite a delicate balance to strike.

Boyens is eagerly advocating for her idea: “One challenge I faced when considering our return to Middle-earth was finding an approach that didn’t rely on Dark Lords or rings. Instead, I wanted it to be a unique story, one that could thrive independently and might not require familiar characters. It could center around entirely new characters. This tale, I believed, should have the ability to stand alone as an animation project. Moreover, I’ve always found the Rohirrim intriguing, and I thought it would make a captivating story.

I was always a little bit skeptical. It wasn’t until Warner Bros came to us and said, ‘What about an anime film?’ that I felt, ‘Yes, an anime film could absolutely work in Middle-earth.’ The story of Helm immediately came to mind as soon as they said anime. It felt like a story that would fit well within the tradition of great Japanese cinematic storytelling. Not just themes of honor, but of family, and that sense that even our heroes have quite significant flaws, in the case of Helm Hammerhand.

What is The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim about?

Let me clarify something for you. So far, we’ve briefly shared the narrative of “The War of the Rohirrim” with you. However, to make things clearer, let me explain what this story entails in more detail. The central conflict in our tale revolves around Helm Hammerhand, a powerful leader among the people of Rohan, and a fresh character we’ve created for the movie named Wulf, who is a Dunlending lord. This narrative will primarily be told from the perspective of Helm’s daughter, Héra.

Director Kenji Kamiyama shared that he developed a unique episode for the film, incorporating elements not present in the initial version. As there was no designated name for the youngest daughter, he introduced an original character named Héra specifically for the movie. (Source: Oricon via CBR)

Undeniably, Kamiyama is a dedicated fan of “The Lord of the Rings,” and while this tale doesn’t feature any characters we’re familiar with from J.R.R. Tolkien’s original trilogy, he subtly suggested some Easter eggs for fans to discover: “Indeed, I pondered ways to link this movie to the world 200 years ago, but I believe I managed to include some surprises that will bring a smile to ‘The Lord of the Rings’ enthusiasts.

One possibility among these nods could be the casting of Miranda Otto as the narrator; she portrayed Éowyn, a Rohan shieldmaiden, in Jackson’s film trilogy. Additionally, “The War of the Rohirrim” features Gaia Wise as Héra, Luke Pasqualino as Wulf, and Brian Cox from “Succession” as Helm Hammerhand.

In a chat with Stephen Colbert, the leading figure from the movie, Cox, explained his character’s role. “He’s a ruler who didn’t inherit his position through birthright. Instead, he was likely a warrior until age 55 and then ascended to the throne. Now, he’s facing difficulties. Things have gone awry, and he needs to resolve the mess.

Additionally, Cox mentioned some unusual assertions concerning his past encounters with J.R.R. Tolkien’s literature. He declared that he isn’t acquainted with it, yet he suspects he perused one of Tolkien’s books at some stage. However, he can’t recall the title, but is certain it wasn’t “The Lord of the Rings,” which is undeniably Tolkien’s most renowned and successful work.

Colbert, being an ardent admirer of “The Lord of the Rings”, finds Cox’s claim peculiar and offers alternative Tolkien books that could have been read instead, ending his list with a question about whether Cox had delved into “The Silmarillion”, Tolkien’s challenging work detailing Middle-earth’s ancient history. “That could be the one,” Cox replied. “I can’t recall a single plot point, but I did find it quite engaging.

Stephen Colbert seems just as doubtful about that assertion as I am, but instead of challenging it, he playfully remarks, “It sounds like you’re the only person who has read ‘The Silmarillion’ in the whole wide world.” He then proceeds to change the subject.

On December 13, “The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim” will hit the big screen, and I must admit, I’m quite curious about it!

2024-12-02 21:41

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