The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim anime movie is heading our way

It was twenty years ago when The Lord of The Rings first hit the big screen. Peter Jackson’s adaptation of J.R.R. Tolkien’s classic brought us one of the greatest trilogies of all time. We know that Amazon is working on a TV series set in Middle Earth (but that is sounding less Tolkien and more Game of Thrones with nudity and sex scenes being mentioned. Hopefully it will end up being good, but we just have to wait and see), but now comes news that New Line Cinema has partnered with Warner Bros. Animation to produce an original anime feature directed by Kenji Kamiyama (Blade Runner: Black Lotus, Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex TV series) – The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim.

The anime explores and expands the untold story behind the fortress of Helm’s Deep, delving into the life and bloodsoaked times of one of Middle-earth’s most legendary figures; the mighty King of Rohan – Helm Hammerhand.

The standalone feature is said to work as a companion piece to New Line’s The Lord of the Rings Trilogy, with story and artistic elements from those films being woven throughout. It is being produced by Joseph Chou with Jeffrey Addiss and Will Matthews (The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance) writing the screenplay. Oscar-winner Philippa Boyens, from the screenwriting team behind “The Lord of the Rings” and “The Hobbit” trilogies, is serving as a consultant on the project.

In a joint statement, Carolyn Blackwood, Chief Operating Officer, Warner Bros. Pictures Group, and Richard Brener, President and Chief Creative Officer, New Line Cinema, said, “All of us at New Line feel a deep affinity for the extraordinary world J.R.R. Tolkien created, so the opportunity to dive back into Middle-earth with the team at Warner Bros. Animation is a dream come true. Fans know Helm’s Deep as the stage for one of the greatest battles ever put to film and, with many of the same creative visionaries involved and the brilliant Kenji Kamiyama at the helm, we couldn’t be more excited to deliver a fresh vision of its history that will invite global audiences to experience the rich, complex saga of Middle-earth in a thrilling new way.”

“This will be yet another epic portrayal of J.R.R. Tolkien’s world that has never been told before. We’re honored to partner with much of the incredible talent behind both film trilogies, along with new creative luminaries to tell this story,” said Sam Register, President of Warner Bros. Animation. “And so it begins.”

The project is being fast-tracked for the big screen, with animation work at Sola Entertainment and voice casting currently underway. The film will be distributed worldwide by Warner Bros. Pictures.