Acclaimed filmmaker Kenji Kamiyama to direct an original film that tells the untold story of Helm’s Deep and the life and blood-soaked times of King Rohan; Sola Entertainment to animate, with New Line Cinema and Warner Bros. Animation producing.
20 years after delivering the award-winning The Lord of the Rings trilogy, based on the iconic books by J.R.R. Tolkien, New Line Cinema has partnered with Warner Bros. Animation to produce The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim, an original anime feature directed by acclaimed filmmaker Kenji Kamiyama that will plunge fans into a legendary battle that helped shape Middle-earth and set the stage for the epic adventures brought to life in the famed film trilogy.
The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim explores and expands the untold story behind the fortress of Helm’s Deep, delving into the life and blood-soaked times of one of Middle-earth’s most legendary figures; the mighty King of Rohan - Helm Hammerhand.
The all-new standalone animated feature is directed by Kamiyama (Blade Runner: Black Lotus, Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex) and produced by Joseph Chou (Blade Runner: Black Lotus), with Jeffrey Addiss and Will Matthews (The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance) penning the screenplay. Oscar winner Philippa Boyens, from The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit trilogies’ screenwriting team, is serving as a consultant.
Though a standalone story, The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim will serve as a companion piece to New Line’s The Lord of the Rings trilogy, with story and artistic elements that will reconnect fans to the excitement and cinematic wonder of Middle-earth.
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,” said Sam Register, President of Warner Bros. Animation. “We’re honored to partner with much of the incredible talent behind both film trilogies, along with new creative luminaries, to tell this story.”
The project is being fast-tracked for a theatrical release, with animation work at Sola Entertainment and voice casting currently underway. The film will be distributed worldwide by Warner Bros. Pictures.
New Line Cinema’s The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit trilogies are among the most successful and acclaimed film franchises of all time. The six films together represent the most awarded film series in history with the highest number of Academy Awards and nominations, including 11 Oscars for The Lord of the Rings: Return of the King, tying the record for a single film.
Source: Warner Bros. Animation
