Animated ‘Lord of the Rings’ Film Offers Behind-the-Scenes Look

With less than a month until the much-anticipated film «The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim» hits theaters, the production team is giving fans a glimpse behind the scenes. Directed by acclaimed filmmaker Kenji Kamiyama, this anime feature revisits the epic world originally crafted by J.R.R. Tolkien, celebrated in «The Lord of the Rings» trilogy.

The film’s impressive voice cast includes well-known names such as Succession’s Brian Cox, who voices Helm Hammerhand, the ancient king of Rohan. Gaia Wise joins him as his daughter Héra, alongside Luke Pasqualino as Wulf. Continuing her role from the live-action adaptations, Miranda Otto returns as Éowyn to narrate the story. Other distinguished voice talents include Lorraine Ashbourne, Yazdan Qafouri, and Benjamin Wainwright.

Helm Hammerhand’s legend and the history of Rohan have been extracted from Tolkien’s appendices to «The Lord of the Rings.» Rohan, a kingdom known for its horses, faces threats due to its geographic vulnerability. The fortress known as the Hornburg, renamed Helm’s Deep, serves as a critical retreat during turbulent times, a pivotal element explored in «The War of the Rohirrim.»

Pioneer filmmakers, including Oscar winners Philippa Boyens, Alan Lee, and Richard Taylor, along with esteemed Tolkien illustrator John Howe, have contributed significantly to the film’s production. «There are these characters who become larger than their myth, and Helm is part of that tradition,» said Brian Cox, describing his character in a special featurette.

Notably, the film also sheds light on Héra, Helm’s daughter, a figure not explicitly named in Tolkien’s writings. Boyens, who co-scripted the legendary live-action «Lord of the Rings» films, along with screenwriter Phoebe Gittins, emphasized their eagerness to develop Héra’s background story.

«We could feel the weight of being that unnamed daughter, which immediately piqued our interest: Who was she? How did she live?» remarked Boyens in an interview with Entertainment Weekly.

«The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim» is set to premiere in theaters globally starting December 11 and in North America on December 13, offering Tolkien fans a long-awaited animated adventure.