Fantasy has had no easy time of things on screen lately. Warrior Nun‘s survival depended on one of the most massive fan campaigns this side of Zack Snyder’s Justice League, Harry Potter spinoffs haven’t kept up momentum even as a somewhat-dreaded television adaptation gets cooked up, and The Rings of Power has hardly been doing Peter Jackson’s original LOTR trilogy any favors, to put it politely. 8614m

Of that last point, the same could be said for The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim, an animated prequel that managed to snag a theatrical release, rare for an adult animated film set in a high-profile canon, before squandering it as meekly as possible. It’s since found its way to Max, where its middling current viewership chart status will likely go on to be a footnote in its tragically unceremonious lifespan.

Per FlixPatrol, The War of the Rohirrim is shuffling around sixth place on the United States’ Max film charts at the time of writing, vying for that relatively-coveted fifth place by going head-to-head with the incumbent, Men in Black (a franchise that would also benefit from an animated film, so long as that film is actually good).

Set roughly 200 years before the events of the original Lord of the Rings trilogy, The War of the Rohirrim stars Gaia Wise as the voice of Héra, the princess of the kingdom of Rohan, which is under siege by an army of Dunlendings led by her childhood friend-turned-enemy, Wulf. Torn between her yearning for adventure and reluctance towards her royal duties, Héra takes it upon herself to ensure that this dark chapter of Middle-earth’s history ends at least somewhat favorably.

A fantastic version of The War of the Rohirrim was sitting right there on a gigantic, sparkly plate; the two-dimensional, traditionally-animated frame invites a brand new perspective on the spectacle we so rightly expect from Tolkien’s world. A pair of childhood friends now stand on opposite sides of a deadly conflict, both characters touching upon the theme of duty. This film needed urgently to stick its landing, not only for the sake of The Lord of the Rings‘ cinematic legacy, but for the future of adult animated theatrical releases, which are in need of a reputational facelift.

There was absolutely no reason for The War of the Rohirrim to have manifested as weakly as it did. But at the end of the day, it just refused to put a finger on the pulse of any of its strengths, resulting in a lopsided chronicle of unearned pathos, combat for the sake of combat, a telling reliance on the Middle-earth stories that came before, and a Balrog-sized hole where a fully realized character-driven epic should have so triumphantly captured moviegoers’ imaginations.

And look, I get it — not everything can measure up to Peter Jackson’s behemoths of the early aughts, but that’s no reason to not try anyway.

When you solve the cinematic adaptation equation as loudly, triumphantly, and legendarily as Peter Jackson did with his Lord of the Rings trilogy back in the early aughts, it’s worth keeping the dark side of that victory in mind as well. Sure, we may have been gifted with a near-uneclipsable filmmaking achievement in a canon that revolutionized the entire fantasy genre in its own right, but sooner or later, we’d have to contend with the fact that things could only get worse for Middle-earth from here.

That doesn’t mean that the stories that follow shouldn’t be crafted with that same love and artistic urgency as Jackson’s benchmarks, and given the opportunity inherent in a film like The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim, it would have been nice if it hadn’t missed such a memo. Indeed, Kenji Kamiyama’s contribution to J. R. R. Tolkien’s brainchild has just about every tool it needs to craft an exciting new vision here — not least of which is the profoundly exciting marriage of this beloved high fantasy world with an anime art style — but, unfortunately, all the tools needed to compromise it are present as well, and those seem to take precedence here.

Set 183 years before Frodo set off for Mount Doom, The War of the Rohirrim stars Gaia Wise as Héra, the princess of Rohan who would rather explore the land on horseback and befriend giant eagles than play politics with her father, Helm Hammerhand (Brian Cox), and her brothers Haleth and Hama. But when Helm accidentally kills Freca, a Dunlending lord and father of Héra’s childhood friend Wulf (whose marriage proposal she also declines), Wulf mounts an army-backed vengeance plot against the throne of Rohan, and it falls to Héra to ensure the safety of her kingdom and people.

The War of the Rohirrim is one of those regretful cases where it’s perfectly capable of crafting interesting characters, only to then not have the first clue as to how to tell a story with them. From the jump, we’re introduced to Héra at the behest of Miranda Otto’s narration (Otto, reprising her legacy role of Éowyn in a voiceover capacity here) of some adjectives that could reasonably be used to describe Héra, as well as a vague omen regarding her destiny. This persists throughout the film as well, with Otto giving us the largely inconsequential low-downs of timeskips and developments on the theater of war.

The latter two can be somewhat forgiven, as the film curiously styles itself as a sort of anthological tale that has only survived via the oral tradition, but there’s simply no excuse for robbing us of the opportunity to meet Héra organically and come to understand her character and arc on our own . This is a shame, because Héra has an incredibly solid skeleton of an arc, but the narrative framework makes it difficult for her and the rest of these characters to spread their proverbial wings.

For example, the majority of the film takes place at Helm’s Deep (or rather, the stronghold that will go on to be called Helm’s Deep by the end of the film), where the remainder of Rohan’s citizens and soldiers try to endure a slow, steady, but violent siege from Wulf’s forces. In this way, the film attempts some sort of tension using the looming threat of the Dunlendings, but only succeeds in plateauing it. In the long period between the kingdom’s arrival at the stronghold and Héra’s showdown against Wulf, the bulk of the story beats don’t move the character needles enough to justify the gratingly disted connectivity of the plot.

The real culprit behind The War of the Rohirrim‘s lack of tension, however, is its inability to create emotion in its narrative, a sin that’s extra disheartening given the personal circumstances of the film’s characters. Héra and Wulf are known to us as childhood friends, but we get a glimpse of that bond for all of 20-30 seconds in a quick flashback where the two of them are play-dueling in a meadow. That isn’t enough to hook us into the tragedy that should be inherent to two childhood friends on opposite sides of a war. Major character deaths, meanwhile, are played as devastating, but we’re never acquainted with them enough to feel that devastation for ourselves, nor are we acquainted with their loved ones enough to truly empathize with their sorrow.

This — and almost every problem The War of the Rohirrim has — could have been solved if the film prioritized the shared history of Héra and Wulf, as the two of them operate on either side of the same thematic coin. Héra wishes for freedom from her royal ties and family and duties but must decide how she’s going to use her talents once she gets that freedom, while Wulf’s anger is driven by a devastating loneliness and lack of purpose that he can’t stop fixating on, driving him and everyone around him — friend and foe — on a path towards destruction.

Had their bond been given the polish and attention it needed, it would have given us a human core to latch onto while shuffling these themes of freedom, attachment, and responsibility to the forefront. Everything else could have been supplementary. Instead, The War of the Rohirrim forsakes this relationship in favor of war-and-intrigue flourishes with far less interesting characters (or, alternatively, far less interesting moments for the interesting characters), and that is, by quite some distance, the second-worst of its transgressions.

The worst? The fact of its failure in the context of being an adult-targeted animated adaptation of an IP that’s both narratively rich and lucrative on a market level. A theatrical anime film set on Middle-earth isn’t the sort of opportunity you take for granted; this is a film that had a responsibility to use its wealth of control over the frame to render the spectacle of Middle-earth in a way we’ve never seen before, and subsequently help animation rightfully place itself higher on the cinematic social ladder.

It simply does not do enough of this, even though several scenes prove its capability of such a task; Helm fending off Dunlendings at the gates of the stronghold and Héra’s encounter with an Oliphant, to name a few of its visual achievements. So, at the very least, it should serve up a story that helps elevate the prestige of this timeless canon, all while bringing its undeniably unique art style along for the ride as it helps carry the torch forward for the reputation of animated storytelling in cinemas.

Instead, The War of the Rohirrim stares this opportunity right in the face and serves up one of the laziest versions of whatever this story could have been, if not out of contempt, then out of indecisiveness. Ten years from now, this piece of Middle-earth history will emerge as a great candidate for a remake, but it frankly had no business getting it wrong this first time, and if the next Lord of the Rings opportunity is even half as adventurous as this one, we can only hope it’s given thrice the respect.

Now that we’re almost ready to say goodbye to 2023, it’s time to look further out and see what awaits moviegoers in 2024.

This was a great year for cinema. From the iconic and culture-defining “Barbenheimer”, to the return of other filmmaking legends like Martin Scorsese (Killers of the Flower Moon), Wes Anderson (Asteroid City), and David Fincher (The Killer), the industry was shaken out of its stupor by the sheer brilliance and creativity at display in theaters.

And sure, there were certain misfires along the way, perhaps even disastrous ones, but I think it’s safe to say that the medium as a whole is making a powerful comeback.

In this article, we’re listing 2024’s most anticipated theater releases, whether it be an unassuming spinoff to the John Wick franchise or the sequel to the best sci-fi movie of the past few years.

10. Ballerina 2h5z6n

Director: Len Wiseman
Starring: Ana de Armas, Keanu Reeves, Gabriel Byrne
Release date: June 7, 2024

Ballerina marks the second spinoff project from the John Wick universe following the release of The Continental. In this new film, we follow the story of a ballerina-turned-assassin called Rooney, who is out to hunt the people who murdered her family. Ana de Armas is spearheading Ballerina, which will be set between John Wick: Chapter 3 and Chapter 4 and feature Keanu Reeves as a ing character.

9. A Quiet Place: Day One 1bz5x

Director: Michael Sarnoski
Starring: Lupita Nyong’o, Joseph Quinn, Alex Wolff
Release date: June 28, 2024

As its title suggests, this new installment in the horror franchise will be a prequel series featuring a completely new ensemble. John Krasinski, who wrote and directed the first two films, is outlining the story treatment, but Michael Sarnoski (known for 2021’s Pig) is helming the movie and writing the script. A Quiet Place is one of the most exciting horror franchises of the past decade, and we can’t wait to see where its story is going to go next.

8. Inside Out 2 195d49

Director: Kelsey Mann
Starring: Amy Poehler, Phyllis Smith, Lewis Black, Tony Hale
Release date: June 14, 2024

Inside Out told the story of how the five main emotions of Fear, Anger, Sadness, Joy, and Disgust came together to make a young girl function, but now Riley is growing into a proper teenager, and the voices inside her head don’t know how to deal with the new arrival: Anxiety. Will Inside Out 2 finally mark Pixar’s return to form after its recent rough patch?

7. The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim 4p264v

Director: Kenji Kamiyama
Starring: Brian Cox, Miranda Otto, Gaia Wise
Release date: December 13, 2024

The War of the Rohirrim is a new anime film set in J.R.R. Tolkien’s Middle-earth. The movie deals with the legendary tale of Helm Hammerhand, a king of Rohan almost two centuries before the events of The Lord of the Rings. And the best part, besides the fact that one of the best anime directors of all time is helming this new project? Miranda Otto’s Eowyn is making a comeback as the story’s narrator.

6. Kung Fu Panda 4 4h6i5v

Director: Mike Mitchell and Stephanie Ma Stine
Starring: Jack Black, Awkwafina, Angelina Jolie
Release date: March 29, 2024

The Dragon Warrior is returning for another epic outing. Po is going up against the Chameleon this time, who is an antagonist capable of bringing back deceased villains like Tai Lung. The adorable fluffy but equally badass panda is also haunted by the prospects of training his successor, a character going by the name of Zhen and portrayed by the talented Nora Lum, aka Awkwafina.

5. Furiosa 1b2067

Director: George Miller
Starring: Anya Taylor-Joy, Chris Hemsworth, Tom Burke
Release date: May 24, 2024

Almost ten years after its initial release, the highly acclaimed Max Max: Fury Road is finally getting a spinoff prequel centering around Imperator Furiosa. George Miller’s new thrill ride will be headlined by Anya Taylor-Joy, who is replacing Charlize Theron in the role as the younger Furiosa. Since Fury Road was an adrenaline-fueled action romp through and through, we can expect the Furiosa to roughly follow the same pattern.

4. Gladiator 2 6b2y51

Director: Ridley Scott
Starring: Paul Mescal, Denzel Washington, Connie Nielsen
Release date: November 22, 2024

Ridley Scott has been cooking up this sequel to Gladiator for more than 20 years. The story is supposed to take place many years after the quarrel between Maximus and Commodus, Rome is once again teetering on the brink of collapse, and it is up to Lucius (now portrayed by Paul Mescal) to step up and save it from itself. Regardless of what you think about Scott’s recent Napoleon movie, which has been received with mixed opinions, we’re all excited to see what he plans to do with Gladiator 2.

3. Dune: Part Two 2s1a4w

Director: Denis Villeneuve
Starring: Timothée Chalamet, Zendaya, Florence Pugh
Release date: March 1, 2024

This was a bit difficult to place, but we can safely say that Villeneuve’s Dune: Part Two should definitely make it to the top three movies on this list. The sequel will continue to chronicle Paul Atreides’ story while introducing several new characters like Florence Pugh’s Princess Irulan. The fight for the desert world of Arrakis will reach a definitive conclusion in this chapter, and if all goes well, we can expect to eventually see a threequel adapting the rest of Frank Herbert’s ambitious and surreal tale.

2. Joker: Folie à Deux 1o634t

Director: Todd Phillips
Starring: Joaquin Phoenix, Lady Gaga, Zazie Beetz
Release date: October 4, 2024

Following the events of 2019’s Joker, Joaquin Phoenix’s take on Arthur Fleck will see him crossing paths with Dr. Harleen Quinzel (aka Harley Quinn), a psychiatrist assigned to treat the Clown Prince of Crime. The first Joker film by Phillips turned into an absolute sensation and became the first R-rated movie to $1 billion at the box office, so it’s safe to say that anticipation and expectations are high for this forthcoming sequel.

1. Deadpool 3 5w4s1p

Director: Shawn Levy
Starring: Ryan Reynolds, Hugh Jackman, Morena Baccarin
Release date: July 26, 2024

A third Deadpool film starring Ryan Reynolds and finally reuniting him with his real-life frenemy Hugh Jackman, who is once again strapping on the claws as Wolverine. Need I say more? Deadpool 3 is undoubtedly the most highly awaited flick of 2024, while also marking the Regenerating Degenerate’s first appearance in the MCU timeline.

Forget about the next two Avengers movies, folks, because this is the crossover event that we’ve all been waiting for. Assuming that the movie won’t be delayed any further, Deadpool 3 drops into theaters on July 26.

Returning to Middle-earth might take a while after it was announced that the release date of The Lord Of The Rings: The War Of The Rohirrim has been pushed back. This animated fantasy flick is still set to come out in 2024, but it will arrive a bit later than originally intended.

Initially, War Of The Rohirrim was scheduled for release on April 12, 2024. Unfortunately, that date was changed to Dec. 13, 2024. According to Deadline, Warner Bros. decided to reschedule the film due to Dune: Part Two also being pushed back. Legendary Entertainment shifted the science-fiction epic from its original Nov. 3, 2023 release to March 15, 2024, due to the availability of actors caused by the SAG-AFTRA strikes. This change also prompted Godzilla X Kong: The New Empire to move its release date to April 12, 2024, when it was originally scheduled for March 15.

It seems that these major blockbusters are avoiding competition with the Dune sequel, despite the Barbenheimer phenomenon being proven to be successful. Not to mention, it is something that both Paw Patrol and Saw are attempting to replicate.

War Of The Rohirrim is an animated feature based on the story of Helm Hammerhand, the legendary King of Rohan, who will be voiced by Succession star, Brian Cox. This prequel is set two centuries before the events of The Lord of the Rings Trilogy, however, Peter Jackson will not be involved. The fantasy epic will be directed by Kenji Kamiyama, known for his work on the Ghost in the Shell anime, Star Wars Visions‘ “The Ninth Jedi,” and Blade Runner: Black Lotus.

Instead of competing with Dune, War Of The Rohirrim will now face Sony’s reboot of The Karate Kid, which is also scheduled to hit theaters Dec. 13, 2024.

Why do the powers that be insist on ruining everything we love?

Okay, maybe that’s a bit dramatic, but it’s hard not to feel cynical after so many fantasy properties have either been utterly tarnished by god-awful adaptations, or got a worthy attempt only to get a premature cancellation. We were in a brief panic, which has since (blessedly) eased, after learning of a potential Legend of Zelda adaptation, but the brief relief we felt at that false rumor was dashed on the rocks of disappointing Lord of the Rings news. 

Then there’s Good Omens, a stellar adaptation of a stellar book, which is also facing roadblocks. Well, not so much “roadblocks” as “incompetence,” after an Amazon blunder sent even typically even-keeled Neil Gaiman into a rage. 

Thankfully, there are a few nuggets of good news mixed in with all the bad. While we’re more amused than anything about Professor Sprout actress Miriam Margolyes’ dismissal of Harry Potter, we’re properly excited about news that early reviews for War of the Rohirrim are almost universally positive. At least that’s one good mark in Lord of the Rings’ favor. That — paired with a very odd Harry Potter-adjacent question — is taking all of our attention for the day, as sci-fi hits like The Flash steal all the attention from our fantasy favorites. 

Neil Gaiman doesn’t mince words on Amazon’s Good Omen season 2 fumble 5x4j73

Amazon’s Good Omens adaptation is set to release its second season in just a few weeks, but the platform is already failing to stick the landing. Promos for season 2 are certainly stirring up interest, but one may also spoil a massive plot point from the season – a fact that instantly infuriated one of the story’s original authors, Neil Gaiman.

Gaiman, who is presently on strike in solidarity with the Writers’ Guild, has been largely absent from the final stages of season 2’s rollout, and many fans are blaming the slip-up on his absence. Gaiman, after revealing that he is “furious” over the inadvertent spoilers, noted that his presence may not have made a difference — but that the people at Amazon “knew better and it still went out somehow.”

The first reactions to War of the Rohirrim are in 5l242b

The world of The Lord of the Rings is expanding, and rapidly, as various heavy-hitters work to milk that cash cow for absolutely everything it’s worth. In some cases, this could be good news — I, for one, still have hope that Rings of Power will reach its full potential — but in other cases *cough Gollum cough* it’s nothing but a stain on what was once a shining legacy.

Thankfully, not every fresh Lord of the Rings offering is off sub-par quality — at least according to early reactions to the animated War of the Rohirrim. The flick is still around a year off from its full theatrical release, but initial reactions have nothing but praise for its marriage of Lord of the Rings and anime, and for a stellar and tear-jerking delivery. 

Our own Professor Sprout is clear on where Harry Potter lands in the cultural zeitgeist 1v6p2c

Harry Potter is a behemoth, there’s no denying that, but i’s also far from the most impacting story ever put to screen. Miriam Margolyes, who played Professor Sprout in the film adaptations of J.K. Rowling’s books, isn’t shy about sharing this fact, as she made clear in a recent interview. The notoriously bold actress noted that, while she enjoyed her time in the franchise, “it’s not Charles Dickens.” She even went so far as to point out that, despite its favor among fans, “for me Harry Potter wasn’t important.” 

We love an honest queen. 

There was never going to be a Legend of Zelda adaptation 3y70w

Thank god. Concerns over the hurdles of a potential Legend of Zelda adaptation divided the fandom over the last several weeks, but Illumination chief Chris Meledandri shut those rumors down with a definitive statement. He told the Wrap that he has no idea “where that [rumor] came from” and largely shut down any reports of a Zelda adaptation in the works. While he’s not explicitly stating that an adaptation is a complete impossibility, it seems that — should that bad idea ever come to — it won’t be any time soon. 

Great, Embracer plans to milk Lord of the Rings for all it’s worth 6w4z4f

Those reviews for War of the Rohirrim are certainly heartening, but they’re not nearly enough to erase some very concerning developments. People were already massively disappointed by Amazon Prime Video’s The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power — despite my more generous thoughts on the series — and news that Embracer Group gained rights to the works, and intends to “exploit” the beloved story to bring itself back from the brink, is hugely disheartening. Of all the fantasy properties out there, many would argue that Lord of the Rings most deserves to be protected, but it seems Embracer plans to do just the opposite.

The oddest Harry Potter question to date challenges the familial connection between two obvious siblings 4u295l

Of all the characters that appear in the Harry Potter films, Fred and George are the most obviously related. Despite this, some fans are bafflingly confused about their sibling status, likely thanks to a viral interview from awhile back. A very foolish question — paired with the real-life twins’ propensity for pranks — led to mass confusion, and forced us to address whether or not Fred and George actors James and Oliver Phelps are twins IRL.

The War of the Rohirrim is a feature set in Peter Jackson’s live-action Lord of the Rings universe, and according to the early reactions by folks on social media, the return of Eowyn and the riders of Rohan in this anime movie is a spectacle for the most diehard of fans and the most ardent of gatekeepers.

Tolkien fans have had a tough year contending with Amazon’s The Rings of Power series and all the things it gets wrong about Middle-earth, but there may be light at the end of the tunnel, after all. (Or as Samwise Gamgee would say, “But in the end, it’s only a ing thing, this shadow. Even darkness must . A new day will come. And when the sun shines it will shine out the clearer.”)

During the recent Annecy Animated Film Festival, The War of the Rohirrim was showcased to a room full of fans and reporters, and the early impressions seem to be very positive.

But first off, let’s quickly recap everything we learned about the movie. The War of the Rohirrim takes place almost 200 years before the events of the trilogy and depicts the tale of Helm Hammerhand. Miranda Otto’s Eowyn is indeed in the story as the main narrator, but the main heroine is actually going to be Hammerhand’s daughter, Hera. When asked why she is the one to spearhead the adaptation, the producers replied: “Everyone else dies!” So we’re definitely in for a tragic story hearkening back to old Germanic folklore.

What’s more, the pic is going to revisit many places from Peter Jackson’s cinematic trilogy, with the producers doing everything in their power to remain true to Tolkien’s canon. And anime apparently never looked this good.

Just finished the work in progress talk for the new #LotR film #WaroftheRohirrim, and I have to say that the marriage between Lord of the Rings and #anime never looked so good! The world and characters looked very authentic. I can’t wait to see this in theaters next year. pic.twitter.com/3H2DyWppWb

— Ryan Grobins @ AnnecyFestival (@RyanGrobins) June 13, 2023

The film is already making its way to people’s most anticipated things to look out for in 2024.

The War of the Rohirrim is in good hands. Tear-jerkingly good.

Je sèche mes yeux mouillés, je mets au propre toutes ces pages de notes et je vous raconte mais #WarOfTheRohirrim est entre de très bonnes mains. pic.twitter.com/1r0wcVgaqb

— CloneWeb (@cloneweb) June 13, 2023

The War of the Rohirrim is being compared to Castlevania, which is honestly a high bar if you’ve watched that anime series.

aram 2 cenas (uma delas, a abertura, não finalizada) e os produtores comentaram da importância de tentar unir o mundo dos filmes de Senhor dos Anéis com os de animes. E realmente foi uma combinação interessante. Me lembrou um pouco de Castlevania #TheWarOfTheRohirrim

— Miguel @ Annecy (@mpmorales) June 13, 2023

Some aren’t convinced, but they’re remaining cautiously optimistic thanks to the high production value.

J’ai vu les premières images de l’anime (japonais) « The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim »

Pour être honnête, pas spécialement convaincu pour l’instant, j’espérais autre chose MAIS on retrouve vraiment le style des films de PJ et les décors semblent réussis

RDV 2024 pic.twitter.com/tLE9eHE3oa

— Matteo – Chaîne du Geek (@MatteoSapin) June 13, 2023

Will The War of the Rohirrim redeem Middle-earth in cinema, if not live-action? I guess we’ll get to answer that question for ourselves come April 12, 2024.

It was only a couple of weeks ago that Warner Bros. announced they’re partnering up with New Line Cinema and Embracer Group to develop new Lord of the Rings movies, but the first spinoff in their new lineup, The War of the Rohirrim, is already being prepared for a showcase at The Annecy International Animation Film Festival.

In other news, Stranger Things showrunners tease fans with the work that’s still ongoing on the fifth and final season, even possibly hinting at a source of inspiration for the last few scripts.

Another disastrous fantasy movie finds new life on streaming, proving that people will watch anything as long as you deliver it to them one scroll at a time 3j1i2h

The Warrior’s Gate is a 2016 Chinese-French movie taking place in an alternate fantasy reality. The story revolves around a boy who spends his free time playing video games, but when he’s magically transported into one of these fictional worlds, he has to fight off adversaries, rescue a princess, and save an entire kingdom. I know, even the premise spells a disaster in the making, but it looks like HBO Max s are inclined to give it another chance.

The latest inspiration for Stranger Things writers leaves fans confused, to say the least 211e36

Stranger Things writers are hinting that one of their inspirations for the final outing of the Netflix juggernaut is A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L’Engle. Not that there’s anything wrong with the classic fantasy novel — besides not sharing any similarities with the Stranger Things world, that is — but since the latest adaptation of that story bombed at the box office despite boasting a star-studded cast, fans are understandably growing a little bit concerned.

Fans would already be wondering if Stranger Things can stick the landing or a long list of divisive endings in the history of the entertainment world, even without these peculiar references inflaming the fandom’s worries. So, if this is the writers’ idea of selling the fifth season, they’re going about it completely wrong.

The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim is coming to the Annecy film festival this Summer 373h1s

It seems The War of the Rohirrim is finally ready to leave the cutting-room floor. The anime, which shares continuity with Peter Jackson’s cinematic universe, is set to depict the story of the legendary Rohan king, Helm Hammerhand, and how he defeated a host of Easterlings against insurmountable odds. Miranda Otto, who portrayed Eowyn in The Lord of the Rings trilogy, is also making a comeback as the story’s narrator, so fans of the movies are pretty stoked about this spinoff.

Now, The War of the Rohirrim‘s producer has revealed that the film is indeed making its debut during this summer’s Annecy animation festival, which means Warner will be on its way to producing the next batch of films with Embracer in no time.

Last month, Warner Bros. Discovery CEO David Zaslav announced that Warner Bros. Pictures had brokered a deal that would allow the studio to make multiple films based on J.R.R. Tolkien’s high fantasy tales of Middle-earth, including The Lord of the Rings, The Silmarillion, and others. Studio heads Mike De Luca and Pam Abdy haven’t yet announced any specific vision for LOTR-based projects but, giving that the history of Middle-earth spans literal millennia, it would seem like the sky is the limit for the stories they’ll be able to realize.

That said, there are most definitely several characters known to fans of Tolkien’s work that would be well-served by a big (or small) screen adaptation — including some that fans have been clamoring to see for years. Here are ten of the most important Tolkien characters that could materialize on screens near you.

Tom Bombadil 6sq4y

It shouldn’t come as any surprise that fans would love to see Tom Bombadil finally make it to the big screen. Although the enigmatic forest dweller, described by many as an embodiment of the natural world of Middle-earth itself, played a major role in The Fellowship of the Ring, the first book of the Lord of the Rings trilogy, he has never been portrayed in any of the animated or live-action adaptations of the author’s work — a fact that was loudly decried by Tolkien fans when the first Peter Jackson film was released.

Bombadil is the protagonist of Tolkien’s book-length poem “The Adventures of Tom Bombadil,” which could conceivably be the basis for a film project. However, some feel that Bombadil, said to be in his own way as powerful as Sauron, perhaps even more so, may be a little too redoubtable to make for a convincing protagonist.

Fëanor 1r6e6

Perhaps the greatest and most tragic elf in the history of Middle-earth, Fëanor is the inciting character of The Silmarillion, the tales that predate the Lord of the Rings and The Rings of Power. Prince of the Noldor elves and perhaps the greatest elven craftsman, gem-smith, and warrior of all of Tolkien’s works, Fëanor forged the Silmarils, the gems that preserved the light of the Great Trees. Yet in his very pride, the Silmarils’ maker became the reason they were stolen by the dark lord, who Fëanor himself renamed Morgoth. Fëanor’s burning pride led to the sundering of the Elven clans, and the return of the Noldor to Middle-earth, forever dooming the lands of Beleriand that were occupied in the first age.

While Prime has explored the second age of Middle-earth, Amazon does not own the rights to produce stories from The Silmarillion. If WBD has acquired them, it’s likely only a matter of time before we see characters like Fëanor and the other heroes of the first age appear in an epic movie series of their own.

Túrin Turambar  325q33

Túrin Turambar is one of the greatest heroes of men, a cross between a tragic prince Hamlet, and a wandering warrior like Robert E. Howard’s Conan. His saga of loss, revenge, and sorrow, which was dominated by a curse from the dark lord Morgoth, formed the primary story in Tolkien’s posthumous novel, The Children of Húrin. The tale is easily the greatest human epic in The Silmarillion, and one of the most obvious tales to adapt into a film.

Elros/ Tar-Minyatur 434q13

Both Lord of the Rings and Rings of Power have made reference to Elrond‘s brother Elros, son of Eärendil the Mariner. Unlike his brother, the half-elven Elros chose the Gift of Man and became mortal, although incredibly long-lived. Elros and the remaining Edain, the men who stood with the Elves during the War of Wrath that destroyed Morgoth and with him the lands of Beleriand, founded the kingdom of Númenor, where Elros became its first king, Tar-Minyatur.

While Tolkien fans finally got to see the island kingdom of Númenor in The Rings of Power, they have not seen the story of its origin and the journey of its greatest king, who forsook immortality to rule the greatest kingdom of men.

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Though it was intended that Imrahil, Prince of the Gondorian land of Dol Amroth, would appear in the original LOTR films, the character ended up on the cutting room floor. In the books, Imrahil was instrumental in the victory of Gondor over the forces of Sauron; his knights of Dol Amroth helped turned the tide at the battle of Cormallen Field, and traveled with Aragorn to the gates of Mordor.

While it’s unlikely that WBD would attempt to remake Return of the King, Imrahil could get his due in a sequel series taking place after the War of the Rings.

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The Blue Wizards, or the Ethryn Luin, along with Gandalf, Saruman, and Radagast, made up the Istari, five Maiar spirits sent to Middle-Earth to aid the free peoples against Sauron. Tolkien reveals little more than their names, Alatar and Pallando, and that they were sent into the far East and South of Middle-earth — and they still haven’t made an onscreen appearance (although some theorized they might in Rings of Power). As the two have very little literary baggage, WBD could get wildly speculative with their story without upsetting the lore established by the Hobbit or Lord of the Rings movies.

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Next year, the new anime The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim, produced by New Line and Warner Bros., will tell the story of Helm Hammerhand, a legendary King of Rohan, and his war against the Dunlendings. But there’s nothing to prevent WBD from dipping into the same well twice. Eorl the Young was the youngest Lord of the Éothéod, and would go on to become the founder of Rohan, its first King, the ancestor of the House of Eorl, and all the Kings of Rohan.

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Rings of Power gave fans their first look at the fully-operational Mines of Moria in all their glory, but with the rights in place, Warner could easily delve deeper into the past than that, to nearly the beginning of Middle-earth itself and the father of the Dwarves, Durin the Deathless. Durin was the founder of the city of Khazad-dûm, and one of the greatest Dwarven kings ever, as well as one of the first dwarves ever created by the great Vala smith, Aulë.

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Aside from the War of the Rings itself, the greatest Tolkien tale of all is that of Beren and Luthien. Beren was a mortal man who fell in love with Luthien, the daughter of Elu Thingol, king of Doriath, and his queen, Melian the Maia, half-elven and half-divine spirit. Though their love was forbidden, Thingol set a terrible bride price for her, one of the precious Silmarils that Morgoth had worn in his iron crown since he stole them from the fortress of Fëanor. Their adventure to regain the jewel — and the terrible fate that befell Beren — make up a legend that became the greatest epic poem of Middle-earth by the time of Bilbo and Frodo. If there’s one story begging to be adapted, it’s this one.

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The most famous hobbit in Middle-earth history before the adventures of Bilbo and Frodo Baggins, Bandobras Took, Bilbo’s great-great-grandfather, was known by his nickname “the Bullroarer.” One of the tallest hobbits ever at 4’5″ — sured by Merry and Pippin by one inch, after they partook of Ent draft — Bandobras was a legend in The Shire years before Bilbo left Bag End for the Lonely Mountain. Bandobras was tall enough to ride a pony and did so at the Battle of Greenfields, helping to stop a goblin invasion of The Shire in the third age. He personally slew Golfimbul, the goblin king, by taking a club and knocking his head off his body and into a rabbit hole, simultaneously inventing golf.

There’s no doubt that the most ambitious Middle-earth project currently on the horizon is Amazon’s The Rings of Power series, but long-time fans of Peter Jackson’s cinematic adaptation are turning their eyes towards another work; an animated feature film set some 183 years before the events of The Lord of the Rings trilogy.

The War of the Rohirrim is produced by New Line Cinema and helmed by acclaimed Ghost in the Shell producer Kenji Kamiyama. The story shares the same continuity with Jackson’s world, and as the title suggests, involves Helm Hammerhand, the legendary king of Rohan who eventually became the namesake for Helm’s Deep.

New Line recently announced the cast for The War of Rohirrim, and the surprise addition of Miranda Otto as Éowyn has managed to generate quite the stir among fans. Éowyn is not actually a character in the story but rather narrates it to an unknown audience in the future, perhaps her son Elboron or her grandson Barahir, whom she shares with Faramir, the First Prince of Ithilien.

Now, in a recent chat with TheOneRing, Philippa Boyens, co-writer of The Lord of the Rings trilogy with Peter Jackson and Fran Walsh, has talked about Éowyn’s inclusion in this new story.

“Her voice was familiar. And then I think it started to come easily for the writers. It’s also so fragmentary, what we are dealing with in of the source material. It’s little bits of references here and there… so the oral tradition felt kind of right. The oral tradition of her telling the tale, ing the tale on.”

Get ready, folks, because the Horn of Helm Hammerhand is going to sound one last time.

We previously reported that Middle-earth Enterprises is looking for a way to sell the rights to film, game, and other media adaptations to The Lord of the Rings, but it seems that Warner Bros. is standing its ground over the film rights.

The Zaentz Co., which holds the rights to Tolkien’s fictional world through its subsidiary Middle-earth Enterprises, has been looking for ways to put these numerous licenses up for sale. But the existing agreements with New Line Cinema have led to the development of a little gray area that Zaentz thinks is a matter of interpretation.

Indeed, the company believes that the rights have reverted back to them because Warner Bros. (who owns New Line) hasn’t been actively producing new The Lord of the Rings content.

Warner Bros., however, doesn’t see matters along those lines. Here’s what a company spokesperson recently told Variety:

“New Line Cinema has maintained the theatrical film rights, both live-action and animated, for over two decades now. We are currently in production on our anime film The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim and look forward to bringing audiences back to Middle-earth.

Variety reports that Zaentz has thus far refused to respond, but it’s no secret that the two companies have held many negotiations over the years for the rights to The Lord of the Rings.

To claim that Warner Bros. hasn’t been working on a new project is also another absurdity in this case, as it’s been a while since they announced The War of the Rohirrim. The report of the bidding war even compelled them to do a press release for their new anime a few days ago, so it’ll be interesting to see where this story develops from here.

Today is a good day for Lord of the Rings fans. We got to see the new Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power trailer, and now we have a release date for new anime film, The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim.

New Line Cinema and Warner Bros. Animation are collaborating to give us this dream come true, and fans can expect it in theaters on April 21, 2024, as shared by Variety.

The anime will follow Helm Hammerhand, the King of Rohan, two centuries before the events of The Hobbit. This is when the construction of Helm’s Deep takes place.

In Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers, we see the Battle of Helm’s Deep, one of the most memorable battles scenes in the series.

This is the battle with Gandalf’s majestic entrance on his white horse, Shadowfax. “Theoden King stands alone,” Gandalf says, to which Eomer replies: “Not alone. Rohirrim!”

Philippa Boyens, Lord of the Rings screenwriter, spoke to Variety about the new anime, sharing key information around the highly-anticipated release.

“I’m in awe of the creative talent who have come together to bring this epic, heart-pounding story to life, from the mastery of Kenji Kamiyama to a truly stellar cast.”

Kenji Kamiyama is a legendary Japanese director of 3D animation, known for his work with Production I.G. on the Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex, Blade Runner: Black Lotus, and Eden of the East.

We also heard, via Variety, from Warner Bros. Pictures Group chairman Toby Emmerich, who said “The Lord of the Rings films took Tolkien’s masterwork to new cinematic heights and inspired a generation.

“It’s a gift to be able to revisit Middle-earth with many of the same creative visionaries and the talented Kenji Kamiyama at the helm. This will be an epic portrayal unlike anything audiences have ever seen.”

2024 may be a long time to wait, but if recent news is any indication of its greatness, it will be well worth it.

After a seven-year hiatus, which is a lifetime in Hollywood when there’s so much untapped lore and earning potential in the property, The Lord of the Rings is coming back to our screens in a major way over the next few years. Amazon are shelling out an eye-watering $465 million for the first run of their TV series, having stumped up a billion dollars total for a five-season commitment, while Warner Bros. are getting back into the theatrical action with The War of the Rohirrim, which is being fast-tracked through development with a full creative team attached and voice casting underway. Of course, the last time audiences visited Middle-earth the results were more than a little disappointing, but if either of the projects can even hit the middle ground between Peter Jackson’s all-time great original trilogy and The Hobbit, then we’re in for something pretty special. In any case, after having been sworn to secrecy for so long, The War of the Rohirrim producer Jason DeMarco recently took to social media and revealed his unbridled excitement and joy at tackling J.R.R. Tolkien’s mythology, and you can see what he had to say below:

“Thanks for all the kind words folks. There’s a lot of work in front of us but we already have an amazing team and director Kenji Kamiyama, as you folks know, is the man. We are lining up killer talent. I’m scared and exhilarated like I’ve never been, and I’m working on something I truly love. If my mom could see me now she’d be happy she let her bookish son spend so many hours indoors drawing dragons, spaceships and watching sci-fi and horror. Very cringe post I know, but I just lost a close friend and I needed this positivity today!”