A new animated Lord of the Rings movie is in development, set 250 years before the main trilogy. J.R.R. Tolkien's Middle-earth saga has long been a staple of the fantasy genre, and on the big screen, it remains an impressive achievement. Peter Jackson steered the Lord of the Rings trilogy to box office and awards glory in the early 2000s, with the final movie, The Return of the King, holding the record for the most Oscars won in a single night. Jackson later attempted to recreate the magic for The Hobbit, though that series earned more mixed responses.
Since The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies in 2014, Middle-earth has largely remained silent when it comes to film and television. However, that looks to end soon with the arrival of Amazon's high-budget Lord of the Rings series, which will be set within Middle-earth's Second Age. The show has yet to receive a premiere date, though it is expected to arrive later this year.
Now there is another Lord of the Rings project in development. New Line Cinema is getting back into the Tolkien business by developing The War of the Rohirrim, an animated prequel set 250 years before the original trilogy. Warner Bros. Animation will also work on the project, and Lord of the Rings' Philippa Boynes (who was part of the series' writing team) will serve as a consultant. Kenji Kamiyama will direct, and the screenplay is being written by Jeffrey Addiss and Will Matthews. Joseph Chou will produce. Carolyn Blackwood, Warner Bros.' Chief Operating Officer, and Richard Brener, President and Chief Creative Officer of New Line Cinema, said in a statement:
“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.”
Sam Register, President of Warner Bros. Animation, added:
“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. And so it begins.”
The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim explores and expands the untold story of Helm's Deep, the iconic fortress seen in The Two Towers. The anime prequel will delve into the life and "bloodsoaked times" of legendary Middle-earth hero Helm Hammerhand, the King of Rohan. The War of the Rohirrim is a standalone feature, but it's being positioned as a companion piece to the original trilogy. The project is still in early development, but New Line is interested in fast-tracking the project. Animation work and voice casting are currently underway.
Tolkien's development of Middle-earth stretches beyond the Lord of the Rings books, so it's no surprise that this fantastical world is getting the prequel treatment. Between the Amazon series and The War of the Rohirrim, the era before Frodo and the Fellowship is getting quite a lot of attention. Though some might scoff at the idea of another Lord of the Rings movie after the immense success of Jackson's trilogy, the animated medium and new story can really make this a thoughtful, worthwhile exploration of Tolkien's world. Since The War of the Rohirrim is moving forward quickly, more updates could arrive soon.
Source: Warner Bros.