What percentage of the latest Lord of the Rings film is rooted in Tolkien's original works?
Warner Bros. is gradually making its comeback to Middle-earth, following the completion of their primary adaptations of Lord of the Rings, which culminated in the finale of the Hobbit trilogy in 2014. Before diving into the studio's return to one of its most successful cinematic ventures with numerous spinoffs, they are starting with an intriguing endeavor: an anime adaptation of a minor segment of Tolkien's extensive timeline.
This forthcoming film is, undeniably, War of the Rohirrim, scheduled for cinema release on December 13. The movie serves as an insightful preview of how Warner Bros. intends to approach its future Lord of the Rings film franchises, including titles like Hunt for Gollum. This concept is drawn from numerous writings by Tolkien, expanded and elaborated upon to create a feature-length narrative. If you're not familiar with Hámas or Haleths, or the differences between Dunlands and Westfolds, here's what you need to know about War of the Rohirrim, along with its links to both Jackson's beloved films and Tolkien's original works.
When Does War of the Rohirrim Take Place?
© Warner Bros.
The events unfolding in War of the Rohirrim take place around 183 years prior to the occurrences in The Two Towers, situating it squarely within the Third Age of Arda. Although we don't have an exact year in relation to the film's chronology, since Fellowship of the Ring condenses a significant period of time from the novel, in Tolkien's own writing, these events are generally set around the years 2758 and 59, about 265 years before The Two Towers.
While we don't have extensive knowledge of this period in either the cinematic continuity or Tolkien's appendices, we do know that it was a challenging time in Middle-earth. The rebellion of the Dunlendings against the rule of Helm Hammerhand took place during a devastating season called the Long Winter, a five-month period of intense cold and snow that led to widespread death and famine across Eriador, including in the Shire, where Gandalf made his presence known to help the Hobbits navigate this crisis. Meanwhile, Rohan and Gondor were each dealing with their own conflicts, with Rohan under siege by the Dunland, and Gondor fighting off the Corsair pirates of Umbar and the Haradrim, which further isolated both kingdoms from any aid.
Who is War of the Rohirrim About?
© Warner Bros.
The film revolves around two primary families. On one side, we have the House of Eorl, led by Helm Hammerhand, the king of Rohan at the time. On the other side, we have the family of Freca, a prominent Rohirrim lord with ancestral links to King Fréawine, who ruled Rohan around a century prior. Freca's son, named Wulf in the film, becomes the leader of the Dunlending rebellion following his father's demise.
While many familiar faces do not feature prominently in War of the Rohirrim, given its pre-Lord of the Rings setting, there are a couple of notable figures from the films that will reprise their roles in the film. Miranda Otto will reprise her role as Éowyn, serving as a narrator and framing device for the film's narrative, and Saruman, who is just beginning his establishment in Isengard around this time, with recordings of the late Christopher Lee being utilized to provide his dialogue.
How Much of War of the Rohirrim is Based on Tolkien?
© Warner Bros.
Everything we know about the film's loose events is derived, in part, from a tiny fraction of Tolkien's appendices for Lord of the Rings. The details of Helm Hammerhand's life and eventual demise are documented extensively in the appendices included in the back of The Return of the King, specifically Appendix A, Annals of the Kings and Rulers' coverage of the House of Eorl and the lines of Rohan's kings, and several small details from Appendix B, The Tales of Years and The Two Towers themselves. The story of the Dunlending rebellion, sparked by Helm's rejection of Freca's marriage proposal to unite his daughter with Freca's son, is documented in only a small collection of pages.
The appendices provide us with the fundamental narrative outline – the motive behind the rebellion, Rohan's occupation by Dunland, Helm's strategic withdrawal to the fortress he would subsequently be recognized by, and ultimately, the reassemblage of the Rohirrim under Helm's nephew and successor, Fréaláf. It's evident that War of the Rohirrim is set to introduce a significant amount of unique content beyond merely replicating the narrative, especially when it comes to enhancing Hèra's perspective. Despite her meager involvement in the appendices' events, Hèra takes on a more prominent role in the movie. Although Hèlr's name is first mentioned explicitly in this context, her presence can be traced back to an earlier adaptation. Hèlm's daughter temporarily appears during the 2017 video game Middle-earth: Shadow of War, where, in an unprecedented twist, Hèlm Hammerhand evolves into one of the Ringwraiths. He then brutally kills his daughter, succumbing to anger after liberating her from an adversarial warlord. It's safe to assume that this depiction will not be replicated here.
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After delving into the world of Middle-earth once again, Warner Bros. plans to showcase their approach to future Lord of the Rings film franchises by incorporating elements from Tolkien's works, such as the Hunt for Gollum. In the future, io9 readers can anticipate exciting adaptations of Marvel, Star Wars, Star Trek, DC Universe, and Doctor Who.
The anime adaptation, War of the Rohirrim, set during the Third Age of Arda, provides a glimpse into the challenging time in Middle-earth when the rebellion of the Dunlendings against Helm Hammerhand ignited during the Long Winter. This period is significant in Tolkien's writings, offering a rich narrative foundation for the film.
Reference(s):War of the Rohirrim
