Inspired once again by the works of Tolkien, The War of Rohirrim will be released on December 11. Manga-style, the film tells the story of Rohan, and Saruman makes a notable return.
Co-produced by Warner and New Line Cinema, the Japanese animated film Rohirrim War , directed by Kenji Kamiyama, is the most eagerly awaited spin-off for fans of the Lord of the Rings and Tolkien. Announced almost three years ago, the film will be released on December 11, 2024. This feature-length film focuses on the kingdom of Rohan, its horsemen from the steppes neighboring Gondor, first introduced in The Two Towers from Peter Jackson. The events of The Rohirrim War take place 183 years before the adventures of Frodo and Aragorn.
This story features Helm Mainmarteau, legendary king of Rohan, and his efforts to protect his kingdom from an army of Dunlendings. Under the brutal onslaught of Wulf, a ruthless and vengeful lord, Helm and his people retreat to the fortress of Hornburg, later known as Helm’s Deep. While the story is familiar to fans of the Fellowship of the Ring, the producers have a surprise in store for viewers.
Christopher Lee back in the saga?
Christopher Lee stars as Saruman, the sorcerer who betrayed Gandalf and his friends. Philippa Boyens, the film’s producer, revealed how the idea came to her, nine years after the British actor’s death, after consulting his wife Birgit Kroencke. “ Birgit Kroencke and Peter Jackson knew deep down that it was the right thing to do, Philippa Boyens recounts in a video released by theonering.net. And we’re convinced that Sir Christopher Lee would have wanted it. So we dug around in the archives and found some old recordings from The Hobbit days.” They decided to use these rushes and integrate them into their new production.
If his interpretation of Dracula remains unforgettable, the role of Saruman was one of Christopher Lee’s favorites.
Resurrection in the world of culture sincere tribute or disrespect?
In the world of culture, the use of recordings of departed icons is on the increase, as much to pay tribute as to provide fan service. These practices always give rise to divergent opinions: some perceive them as a lack of respect, others simply interpret them as a wink, particularly in the context of a spin-off of a work that has had a significant impact thanks to the actor concerned.
The digital resurrection of film actors is now common practice. Ian Holm has been integrated into Alien Romulusfour years after his death, with the return of science officer Ash, his android character from the first Alien. Alien, the Eighth Passenger (1979). He was digitally recreated to fit in with the scenes, and his lines of dialogue were generated using artificial intelligence. A choice that caused controversy at a time when actors and scriptwriters were battling it out in Hollywood for the supervision of AI use by studios. Director Fede Alvarez had tried to calm the controversyexplaining that he had acted with “great respect”.
The Rohirrim War producers hope to avoid such controversy by using real Christopher Lee recordings. “This is an authentic Christopher Lee performance. “, says Philippa Boyens, who also explains that it’s more of a brief appearance. Will fans of the saga or those who adore the British actor be convinced? Find out on December 11.