First look at The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim teases epic battles

The upcoming movie in the Lord of the Rings franchise, The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim, is an anime fantasy epic directed by Kenji Kamiyama from Japan.

The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim focuses on the story of Helm Hammerhand, voiced by Brian Cox from Succession. The film is set 200 years before the events of The Fellowship of the Ring and follows Helm’s reign, the renowned king of Rohan who eventually gives his name to Helm’s Deep.

In an interview with Entertainment Weekly, Kamiyama stated, “This is the story of the most powerful king in Rohan’s history, someone who defeated his enemies with his bare fists. Why did his lineage have to end with him? I think there is a lesson in hubris there and also for a need for responsibility and awareness in their power.”

At the Annecy Animation Festival, Warner Bros. Animation, New Line Cinema, and Sola Entertainment presented a preview of 20 minutes of The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim. According to Variety, the footage received enthusiastic applause and introduced the audience to Princess Héra (Gaia Wise), the heroine of the movie, who alongside her father Helm, defends their kingdom against an army of Dunlendings led by the film’s antagonist, Wulf (Luke Pasqualino).

‘The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim’ is an anime prequel film about an important battle in the history of Rohan. Producer Philippa Boyens, director Kenji Kamiyama, and voice actress Gaia Wise tease the film’s central characters. https://t.co/WpzWPEd5NR

— Entertainment Weekly (@EW) June 11, 2024

Miranda Otto reprises her role as Éowyn from the Lord of the Rings saga, serving as the narrator of The War of the Rohirrim. Laurence Ubong William and Shaun Dooley lend their voices to Fréaláf Hildeson and Freca, respectively.

Directed by Kamiyama, The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim is written by Phoebe Gittins and Arty Papageorgiou. Producers include Philippa Boyens, Joseph Chou, and Jason DeMarco. During the panel at the Annecy Animation Festival, it was announced that Peter Jackson and Fran Walsh, key figures in the Lord of the Rings trilogy, would serve as executive producers on The War of the Rohirrim.

The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim will hit theaters on December 13, 2024.

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