It really has been a great few years for anime and animation in general hasn’t it? Whether it’s movies or series, we have really gotten some great adaptations. Now twenty years after Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring, it’s Tolkien’s turn. New Line Cinema and Warner Bros. Animation are teaming up to bring another epic battle in Middle Earth to life.
Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim will be set in the same timeline as Peter Jackson’s live action films, but before the iconic trilogy. It’s important to know that this is a standalone film, and a bit of a companion piece. Filmmaker Kenji Kamiyama (Ghost In The Shell: Stand Alone Complex) will be in charge of the screenplay. It, “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.”
Sola Entertainment will be handling the animation. There are no cast members to announce yet, but the search is underway.
“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.”
“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,” said Carolyn Blackwood, Chief Operating Officer, Warner Bros. Pictures Group, and Richard Brener, President and Chief Creative Officer, New Line Cinema in a joint statement.
Part of me is surprised that it has taken this long to get a Lord of the Rings anime, but you could also argue that now is a good time. Question is, who would you like to see in this story? There is obviously no release date just yet, and I would not expect to see this until around 2023. Does “fast tracked” mean that they are trying for 2022? We’ll have to wait and see. Once any updates are available, we’ll have them.
Photo Credit: Warner Bros. Animation