The Anime Adaptation of "The Lord of the Rings: War of the Rohirrim" Sets Sail for 2024
If you're hyped about Prime Video's sumptuous Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power TV series, chances are you're also amped up about Warner Bros.' The War of the Rohirrim anime flick, which was revealed last summer. Sadly, you've got a long wait ahead before the Rohirrim horse-riders of Middle-earth grace movie screens, as the film won't debut until April 12, 2024. But at least we've got a sneak peek.
That sneak peek is courtesy of a single concept art piece, which you can see above, made by Weta Workshop, not the anime studio responsible for the film, Sola. Warning: It's a depiction of the Rohirrim in battle. Specifically, they're at war with the Haradrim, given that a Mûmakil is smashing through the wooden walls of Rohan's capital Edoras. (Those readers planning to leave a snotty comment clarifying this is an Oliphaunt instead of a Mûmakil, kindly consult the LotR wiki. )
You'll likely remember the Haradrim as part of Sauron's human army, who went to war against the Rohirrim in Peter Jackson's Return of the King movie. However, The War of the Rohirrim—taking place a few hundred years prior to the events of Lord of the Rings—will tackle "the untold tale behind Helm’s Deep's fortress," showcased in The Two Towers' iconic battle, and "uncover the untold story of one of Middle-earth's most legendary figures; the mighty King of Rohan—Helm Hammerhand."
A noteworthy aspect is that this anime film has no connection to Prime Video's upcoming Rings of Power TV series and will be more aligned with Jackson's movies, as the artwork suggests. Also, Warner Bros. might be losing its Lord of the Rings film rights shortly, as the Saul Zaentz Company is reportedly putting the license back on the market soon. If WB loses the movie rights—which is likely to be scooped up by Amazon like Gollum grabbing the Ring—it’s uncertain how this will impact The War of the Rohirrim.
If the movie manages to premiere in 2024, it'll be under the direction of Kinji Kamiyama of Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex fame. Warner Bros. is expected to announce the movie's "elating" voice cast soon, but between the 2024 release and the license issues, "soon" could be a rather flexible term.
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The upcoming movie 'The War of the Rohirrim' promises to delve into the past, offering an untold tale before the events of 'Lord of the Rings' and focusing on Helm's Deep's fortress. With advanced technology, the animation will closely resemble the style of Peter Jackson's films. In the future, moviegoers may witness Helm Hammerhand's legacy brought to life on the big screen, directed by Kinji Kamiyama.
As 'The War of the Rohirrim' approaches, tech-savvy fans can follow updates on io9, keeping up with the latest information about the voice cast and potential changes in movie rights.
