Héra Takes Center Stage in New ‘The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim’ Image

Getting closer to a return to Middle-earth, the animated feature ‘The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim’ is steadily unveiling its storyline. Following a debut glimpse of the protagonist and antagonist at the Annecy International Animation Film Festival, a new image exclusively revealed by Anime Expo spotlights Héra, the determined princess of Rohan. Voiced by Gaia Wise from ‘A Walk in the Woods,’ Héra leads her people in a battle against a formidable new adversary, setting the stage for the first anime instalment in J.R.R. Tolkien’s universe.

Set 183 years before Peter Jackson’s acclaimed trilogy, ‘The War of the Rohirrim’ chronicles the fate of King Helm Hammerhand (Brian Cox) and the origins of Helm’s Deep. After an attack by Dunlending lord Wulf (Luke Pasqualino), King Helm retreats to Helm’s Deep for a final stand, leaving his daughter Héra (voiced by Gaia Wise) to rally her kingdom against imminent destruction.

Also Read: Russell Crowe Shares Why He Rejected The Aragorn Role in ‘LOTR’

Directed by Kenji Kamiyama (‘Blade Runner: Black Lotus’), the anime film highlights strong female characters, including Héra and the returning Éowyn (Miranda Otto), narrating the tale. Kamiyama emphasizes the film’s fidelity to Tolkien’s original work, blending stunning animation with rich storytelling.

Scripted by Phoebe Gittins and Arty Papageorgiou from a story by Jeffrey Addiss and Will Matthews, and endorsed by Academy Award-winning screenwriter Philippa Boyens, ‘The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim’ promises a character-driven narrative immersed in a captivating fantasy realm.

–Farheen Ali