While everyone is talking about the next live-action Lord of the Rings film, the Hunt for Gollum, which will include Peter Jackson making a comeback to the franchise, WB Animation has been quietly working on its previously announced Lord of the Rings animated picture.
First revealed in June 2021 during 20th anniversary celebrations of the film franchise, WB shared the first details on The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim.
Described as an anime movie, the project was subsequently confirmed to be a collaboration between WB Animation and Tokyo-based Solo Entertainment (Ninja Kamui, Tower of God).
Earlier this week, WB Animation confirmed that The War of the Rohirrim would be showcased at next month's Annecy Film Festival and also released three hi-res versions of previously released conceptual images from the film. Specifically, the first footage from the film will be showcased (and hopefully) uploaded near the time of the panel.
The film is currently set for release on December 13, 2024, but was originally scheduled to hit theaters on April 12, 2024. The delay was caused by the 2023 SAG-AFTRA strike.
A previously released synopsis for the film reads, "A sudden attack by Wulf, a clever and ruthless Dunlending lord seeking vengeance for the death of his father, forces Helm and his people to make a daring last stand in the ancient stronghold of the Hornburg – a mighty fortress that will later come to be known as Helm’s Deep. Finding herself in an increasingly desperate situation, Hera, the daughter of Helm, must summon the will to lead the resistance against a deadly enemy intent on their total destruction."
Kenji Kamiyama (Blood: The Last Vampire, Star Wars: Visions- "The Ninth Jedi") is directing from a screenplay written by Phoebe Gittins and Arty Papageorgiou.
The film stars Brian Cox as Helm Hammerhand, "the hot-tempered king of Rohan who attempts to protect his people."
Gaia Wise also stars as Hèra, Helm's tom-boyish daughter, Luke Pasqualino plays Wulf, the leader of a rival faction that's seeking revenge against Helm, while Miranda Otto returns to the LOTR as Éowyn, who serves as narrator of the past tale.
Additionally, Laurence Ubong Williams plays Fréaláf Hildeson, Helm's nephew and next in line for the throne while Shaun Dooley voices Freca, Wulf's father.
Lorraine Ashbourne, Yazdan Qafouri, Benjamin Wainwright, Michael Wildman, Jude Akuwudike, Bilal Hasna, and Janine Duvitski have all been cast in undisclosed roles.