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Warner Bros. has unveiled a first look at its anime film The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim, set to headline the Annecy International Animation Film Festival. This marks the studio’s first animated venture into the The Lord of the Rings universe, reflecting a significant addition to its franchise. The film will premiere its world-premiere footage at the festival starting 9 June, alongside an engaging panel discussion featuring a notable team of creators.
The War of the Rohirrim delves into the untold story of Helm’s Deep, exploring the epic and turbulent era of Helm Hammerhand, the legendary King of Rohan. The narrative promises to expand on the lore established in the earlier cinematic efforts, focusing on the fortress’ origins and the king’s storied past, which predates the well-known events of the original trilogy.
The project boasts an impressive cast, with Brian Cox (Succession) voicing the protagonist, King Helm Hammerhand. The cast also includes Gaia Wise as Helm’s daughter, Hera, and Luke Pasqualino (The Musketeers) as the antagonist, Wulf. Adding a touch of continuity to the franchise, Miranda Otto, known for her role as Eowyn in the original trilogy, returns to narrate the prequel.
Directing the animated feature is Kenji Kamiyama, known for his work on 2021’s Blade Runner: Black Lotus, with Joseph Chou producing. Both will participate in the film festival’s panel alongside Andy Serkis, who famously portrayed Gollum in the original films and is currently set to direct a live-action spin-off, The Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum (which will also be produced by Peter Jackson).
This announcement comes amid a resurgence of interest in the The Lord of the Rings saga, with Warner Bros. also revealing plans for The Hunt for Gollum, scheduled for release in 2026.
The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim opens in cinemas on 13 December.
Natalie is a big fan of anything related to movies, TV shows, games, and comics — you name it. When she’s not reading or geeking out about the latest shows on Netflix, she’s probably playing gacha and tabletop games, or daydreaming of meeting her idols.
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