News

Cinemark, the nation’s third-largest theater chain, and smaller Marcus Theatres piled on strong financial results Thursday after sunny numbers from Imax on Wednesda –, all bright notes amid ongoing box office uncertainty.

Marcus shares popped by more than 10% on the numbers. The Milwaukee-based chain “achieved growth with a markedly improved film slate that played particularly well with audiences in our markets,” said chairman-ceo Greg Marcus. “As we look ahead to the remainder of the year and into 2025, we are encouraged by trends within both businesses, including an impressive array of high-quality films headed for the big screen this holiday season.”

Cinemark chief executive Sean Gamble said “strong, sustained consumer enthusiasm for shared, larger-than-life, theatrical experiences was once again on full display in the third quarter as film results far outpaced expectations, delivering the highest quarterly box office since the pandemic, which climbed to within 4% of 3Q19″ for the three months ended in September.

Actor Christopher Lee died in 2015 at the age of 93, following an incredible career in the arts. Lee appeared in nearly 300 films, but around these parts he'll always be best known for his portrayal of Saruman, the duplicitous wizard from Peter Jackson's Lord of the Rings films. Lee infused Saruman with humanity as well as ire, making him a villain who was enjoyable to watch even as he worked tirelessly to undermine the heroes.

And it turns out, we haven't seen the last of Lee's Saruman quite yet. NME reports that this December, we'll hear the voice of Saruman again in the new Lord of the Rings animated movie, The War of the Rohirrim. This news comes from TheOneRing.net, who had the opportunity to speak with Philippa Boyens, a longtime collaborator of Jackson's who co-wrote both The Lord of the Rings and Hobbit films and is back for War of the Rohirrim.

Hayao Miyazaki has created one eye-opening movie after another, and each of them has their own history of behind-the-scene battles. Miyazaki is not the conventional filmmaker who is happy with creating simple children’s films; he includes deeper and darker themes that also keep adults engaged.

One of Studio Ghibli’s most controversial productions was Princess Mononoke. While it achieved critical and commercial success after its debut, there was a long process of internal concerns and not-so-silent battles that riddled the production and release of the film.

Hayao Miyazaki Decided Children Need to Watch Princess Mononoke Despite its Grave Nature Princess Mononoke by Hayao Miyazaki | Credits: Studio Ghibli

Princess Mononoke takes its audience inside the ancient forests of Japan and shows the eternal struggle between nature and mankind. The movie features some gory battle scenes, mutations that could be scarring, and also human’s brutal retaliation against nature and how it fires back.

The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim is an upcoming anime fantasy film based on J. R. R. Tolkien’s epic creation. The film is set decades before the events of the Peter Jackson-directed live-action Lord of the Rings trilogy, which featured veteran actor Christopher Lee in the role of Saruman. Despite Lee’s passing, the animated film is expected to bring him back.

Lord of the Rings actor Christopher Lee passed away in 2015 (Credit: New Line Cinema).

During a recent interview, the film’s producer confirmed that Lee’s voice was being recreated for the movie so that he could reprise the role of Saruman, one more time. However, the producer admitted that the film will not rely on Artificial Intelligence technology to revive the late actor. Here is how the new Lord of the Rings movie brought back Christopher Lee as Saruman.

New Lord of the Rings...

We knew that Saruman would appear in The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim, but we didn’t know who would be voicing the White Wizard. Turns out, none other than Sir Christopher Lee will return to voice Sarumon in The War of the Rohirrim. As Lee sadly died in 2015, you might expect this to be an A.I. situation, but fear not, the production has made use of archival recordings of Lee.

While speaking with The One Ring, Lord of the Rings screenwriter Philippa Boyens said they reached out to Birgit Kroencke (Lee’s widow who died earlier this year), who gave her blessing. “[Kroencke] said the thing that I think that Peter [Jackson] felt in his heart, which was that actually Sir Christopher would’ve wanted this.” Boyens said. “So we went into his records, I got to go back and hear his voice–not just doing the lines,...

Christopher Lee is one of the integral elements of the cinematic Middle-earth experience. The Saruman actor breaks bad in Peter Jackson's "The Lord of the Rings" trilogy and is the central antagonist in "The Two Towers." Lee reprised the role for the "Hobbit" prequel films, too, depicting an earlier version of the White Wizard of Isengard who was harboring ill intent but hadn't yet openly joined Sauron's cause.

While Lee played Saruman across two trilogies, his Middle-earth journey came to an end when the actor died in June 2015 — just half a year after "The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies" released. Since then, multiple studios have initiated various projects based on Tolkien's world. Prime Video's "The Rings of Power" was able to skirt the issue of recasting Saruman for multiple reasons, including the fact that Saruman isn't in its Second Age story (even if they did technically...

The Lord Of The Rings: The War Of Rohirrim unveiled a new tapestry artwork and a behind-the-scene video of its creation at this year’s New York Comic Con on Oct 18, 2025.

Tapestry artwork

The BTS video begins with rough pencil sketches of the film’s main characters and mythical settings. As the video progresses, fans can see how digital technology was used to add details and refine the sketches.

The final phase of the process involved animating the drawings, bringing movement and depth to the visual designs. The video culminated with the unveiling of the finished tapestry.

Checkout the video below:

The Lord of the Rings: The War of Rohirrim is slated to release in U.S. on Dec 13, 2024, and internationally on Dec 11, 2024.

Kenji Kamiyama, known for his work on Blade Runner: Black Lotus and Eden Of The East, will direct the film, with Peter Jackson and Fran Walsh, Sam Register,...

Middle-earth is having a moment. Projects and adaptations are popping up all over the place. Warner Bros. has multiple Tolkienian irons in the fire. Prime Video is also heavily invested in the author's world through its "The Rings of Power" streaming series, which recently wrapped up a lore-rich season 2. While the streamer's press releases indicate that many people are watching the show, one individual is decidedly not amongst them: Philippa Boyens. Boyens was a screenwriter for Peter Jackson's iconic trilogy, and she is actively involved in upcoming WB projects in that area of the fantasy landscape, which directly influenced her reason to avoid "Rings of Power" -- at least for the time being.

"I haven't watched it, and I've done that quite deliberately because I'm not about to pass judgment on anybody else's attempt to go back into that world," Boyens explained to Empire Magazine. Her initial reason focused...

Nominations voting is from January 8-12, 2025, with official Oscar nominations announced January 17, 2025. Final voting is February 11-18, 2025. And finally, the 97th Oscars telecast will be broadcast on Sunday, March 2 and air live on ABC at 7 p.m. Et/ 4 p.m. Pt. We update our picks through awards season, so keep checking IndieWire for all our 2025 Oscar predictions.

The State of the Race

“Inside Out 2” (Pixar/Disney) has become the Best Animated Feature Oscar favorite as the year’s box office phenomenon, putting Pixar back on top theatrically after its recent drought. The other frontrunners include “The Wild Robot” (DreamWorks/Universal), Annecy and Animation Is Film Special Jury Prize winner “Memoir of a Snail” (IFC),” Ottawa and Animation Is Film Grand Prize winner “Flow” (Sideshow/Janus Films), and “Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl” (Aardman/Netflix).

Still to come are “Moana 2” (Disney) and “The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim...

Ian McKellen’s claim that The Hunt For Gollum will be two films was a ‘genuine misunderstanding’ according to writer-producer Philippa Boyens.

If the brilliant scene set at the Doors of Durin during 2001’s The Lord Of The Rings: The Fellowship Of The Ring taught us nothing else, it was a reminder that even wizards can misundestand things occasionally. We’re pretty sure that’s a rarity, but it looks like it may have happened again as Ian McKellen’s claim last month that the planned Lord Of The Rings: Hunt For Gollum project was actually two films seems to have come down to a misunderstanding.

It seems that we might have arrived at the best of outcomes here, not least because there were quite a few worried double takes when McKellen revealed back in September on This Morning that, “I’m told it’s two films,” adding, “I probably shouldn’t be saying this.

Before making its grand return to the big screen later this year, Middle-earth invaded New York Comic Con this week and gave attendees a taste of what to expect from "The Lord of the Rings: The War of The Rohirrim." The very existence of the film marks a first for this franchise. In a narrative and stylistic choice that harkens back to the property's roots with Ralph Bakshi's 1978 animated "Lord of the Rings" adaptation and the Rankin-Bass "The Return of the King" two years later, the upcoming movie unfolds entirely as anime. Of course, certain purists may not feel like this style fully lends itself to J.R.R. Tolkien's wonderfully distinct world -- particularly one that takes place within the same continuity as Peter Jackson's "Rings" trilogy. But if there's any message that the film's cast and crew are hoping to send, it's that this is the...

With the 2024 New York Comic-Con (Nycc) happening this weekend, Warner Bros has launched their first official marketing campaign for the upcoming animated movie The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim, set to arrive theaters this December. This Lotr anime is produced by Peter Jackson and made in Japan by anime filmmaker Kenji Kamiyama - watch the first official trailer here. "Inspired by the concept art for Lotr: The War of the Rohirrim, see the story of Rohan and the history of Helm's Deep unfold in this behind-the-scenes look." The video shows two designers (currently unidentified in the video or elsewhere) planning, arranging, and finalizing a new "tapestry" to promote the movie. The tapestry is actually a very wide "scroll" of imagery - available for download on the film's Nycc page. A sudden attack by Wulf, a clever and ruthless Dunlending lord seeking vengeance for the death of his father,...

New Line Cinema is marching into New York City Comic-Con with a special presentation for the upcoming original anime feature The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim. The panel places Lotr fans at the heart of the world, which J. R. R. Tolkien created, giving them a front-row seat for an animated event film arranged by the award-winning filmmaker Kenji Kamiyama (Blade Runner: Black Lotus and Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex TV series). Today’s BTS video for The War of the Rohirrim brings us behind the magic of Kamiyama’s film, highlighting the painstaking process of creating a high-concept fantasy adventure from scribbles and scratches.

The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim BTS video begins with rough pencil sketches of characters and mythical locales before showcasing charcoal drawings and the storyboarding process. After completing the look of the world and its characters,...

Earlier this year came seismic news from Middle-earth: more Lord Of The Rings films are on the way from Warner Bros, with Peter Jackson and his team producing, and familiar faces expected to return in front of the camera too. Then quickly came the reveal that one such upcoming project is titled The Hunt For Gollum, set shortly before the main events of The Fellowship Of The Ring, and set to be directed by none other than Gollum himself: Andy Serkis. From there, all kinds of rumours and reports have spread – including the notion that The Hunt For Gollum will be split into two films, which originated from an interview with Gandalf actor, Sir Ian McKellen.

But as Lord Of The Rings screenwriter Philippa Boyens tells Empire, thing have got a little lost in (Elvish) translation. “I can tell you definitively it isn’t two films!” she says. “That was...

One multiyear pandemic, two Hollywood strikes and New York Comic Con is back for its “first true, full event” kicking off Thursday.

And though the early days of Covid-19 are behind us, certain aspects of how live events changed between 2020 and 2024 are apparent in this year’s show — like the inclusion of a free livestream for several of the con’s top panels held at New York’s Javits Center for the four-day event.

While some might see that as giving away free content for a ticketed event, New York Comic Con owner ReedPop views it as a worthwhile business decision to maintain relationships with consumers.

“I think there’s a lot of benefit for us to make our content accessible for fans that aren’t able to come,” ,” event director Kristina Rogers told Variety. “And I’m a true believer in, New York Comic Con brings the best of pop culture to the world,...

Bilal Hasna is transforming into Layla, the title drag queen in Amrou Al-Kadhi’s feature directorial debut.

“3 Body Problem” star Hasna leads “Layla,” which centers on an eponymous British-Palestinian drag queen in London who falls in love with an advertising executive (Louis Greatorex), all while navigating their identity around family and friends. Think a modern-day, queer take on “Romeo & Juliet.”

The British indie film had its world premiere at the Sundance Film Festival and later opened the BFI Flare: London Lgbtiq+ Film Festival. “Layla” also screened at the London Film Festival and Newfest.

Director Al-Kadhi previously worked as a drag performer before becoming a filmmaker. Al-Kadhi acted in Steven Spielberg’s “Munich,” “Venom: Let There Be Carnage,” “The Souvenir: Part II,” and “American Horror Stories.” They helmed shorts “Anemone,” “Run(a)Way Arab,” “Clash,” and “Define Gender: Victoria Sin” before making their feature debut with “Layla.”

IndieWire’s...

Just when you thought you’d finally get to see what happens next in The Rings of Power, along comes a curveball that could push Season 3 even further down the road. While fans have been anxiously waiting for the epic continuation of Middle-earth, it seems there’s yet another hurdle causing delays—and it’s more frustrating than a Balrog blocking the way!

Charlie Vickers in The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power | Credits: Amazon MGM Studios

If waiting for Season 2 was tough, Season 3 might’ve fans feeling like they’re stuck in an endless hobbit journey. Whether it’s production slowdowns, studio logistics, or BTS shuffles, the reasons are adding up, and patience is running thin. Here’s why you might need to keep your lembas bread stash ready for a long haul.

Why the Wait for The Rings of Power Season 3 Could Be Even Longer Than...

In the 23 years since the Best Animated Feature category was introduced at the Oscars, Pixar has dominated, racking up an impressive 11 wins from 18 nominations; its last victory was in 2021 for “Soul.” Walt Disney Studios has four trophies to show for its lucky 13 nominations while DreamWorks has gone 2 for 14, including the first-ever Oscar awarded for Best Animated Feature, which went to “Shrek.” Studio Ghibli also has a pair of prizes, and is the reigning champ with “The Boy and the Heron.” (Scroll down for the most up-to-date 2025 Oscar predictions for Best Animated Feature.)

That marked the second win for Japanese auteur Hayao Miyazaki, who had prevailed for “Spirited Away” 22 years earlier. Miyazaki crafted the only two hand-drawn movies to win this race. Two stop-motion flicks — “Wallace & Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit” and “Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio” — have prevailed. The other 19 winners were all done with CGI.

Updated: October 10, 2024

Leading...

“Nickel Boys,” the acclaimed drama from director RaMell Ross based on a Colson Whitehead novel, is being pushed from its planned release in October to now open in a platform release late in the year in December.

Amazon MGM is rescheduling “Nickel Boys” from a release on October 25 in New York City and November 1 in Los Angeles to now open December 13 in NYC and December 20 in LA, an individual with knowledge of the shift told IndieWire. The film premiered at Telluride and was the opening night film for the New York Film Festival.

The change is significant for a serious Oscar front runner. But distributor Amazon MGM is thinking of another movie of its own that worked its way to some Oscar glory with the same exact approach: last year’s “American Fiction.”

That film too, directed and written by Cord Jefferson and starring Jeffrey Wright, opened in limited release on the same weekend,...

Superman star David Corenswet recently appeared on the Manly Things (Sort Of) podcast and while he couldn't say much about his role as the Dcu's Man of Tomorrow, the actor did detail his physical transformation.

Becoming Superman is no easy feat for an actor and he told the hosts, "I wasn't 238 [pounds] when we started shooting. I was 238 at my max. I didn’t fit into any of my pants."

Coresnwet added that it was difficult to maintain his peak weight during production and admitted that his initial transformation "didn't feel great" because getting used to all that extra weight was a challenge.

In fact, it was during a table read for Superman that he realised he'd bulked up to a 2Xl Champion sweatshirt!

"That was at the peak of my bulk," Corenswet said on the podcast. "And then I slowly lost weight before we started shooting. I started shooting at...

The first official poster for Warner Bros.' animated The Lord of the Rings prequel film, The War of the Rohirrim, has been released.

The artwork features the king's daughter, Hera, standing ready to defend her home from ruthless invaders, with her father, King Helm Hammerhand, and the villainous Wulf in the background.

The Middle Earth adventure, which is set almost 200 years before the events of J.R.R. Tolkien's classic trilogy, follows the mighty first King of Rohan as he mounts a defence of the fortress of Hornburg (which came to be known as Helm's Deep) from a relentless siege.

“This is the story of the most powerful king in Rohan's history, someone who defeated his enemies with his bare fists,” director Kenji Kamiyama said in a recent interview. “Why did his lineage have to end with him? I think there is a lesson in hubris there and also for...

Warner Bros. unveiled the official poster for the upcoming The Lord of the Rings: The War of Rohirrim anime film on Sep 22, 2024.

The poster features Helm Hammerhand – the King of Rohan, Héra, and Wulf – the Dunlending lord.

The Lord of the Rings: The War of Rohirrim is slated to release in U.S. on Dec 13, 2024, and internationally on Dec 11, 2024.

It was previously revealed that the anime film will have a presence at New York Comic Con (Nycc), which is set to take place from Oct 17-20, 2024.

Kenji Kamiyama, known for his work on Blade Runner: Black Lotus and Eden Of The East, will direct the film, with Peter Jackson and Fran Walsh, Sam Register, Carolyn Blackwood and Toby Emmerich serving as executive producers.

It is produced by produced by Oscar winner Philippa Boyens, known for her work on The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit trilogies, alongside Jason DeMarco and Joseph Chou.

One poster to rule them all…One month after we got a look at the first trailer for The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim, we now have an official one-sheet ahead of the film’s December release. You can check it out embedded in the article.

Here is the official write-up from Warner Bros.: “Set 183 years before the events chronicled in the original trilogy of films, “The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim” tells the fate of the House of Helm Hammerhand, the legendary King of Rohan. A sudden attack by Wulf, a clever and ruthless Dunlending lord seeking vengeance for the death of his father, forces Helm and his people to make a daring last stand in the ancient stronghold of the Hornburg—a mighty fortress that will later come to be known as Helm’s Deep. Finding herself in an increasingly desperate situation,...

If Peter Jackson had dropped his iconic Lord of the Rings trilogy today, he’d probably face a social media firestorm, all thanks to a deleted Liv Tyler scene that never saw the light of day. Imagine the frenzy—fans outraged, hashtags trending, and think pieces flying left and right. Back in the early 2000s, Jackson made his directorial choices without TikTok think tanks or Twitter trolls.

Peter Jackson. | Credit: Mike Walen/Cca-by-sa-3.0/Wikimedia Commons.

But fast forward to today, and that one scene featuring Tyler’s Arwen could have sparked an internet riot. It’s a different world now, where one cut can lead to a viral uproar, and Jackson would have had to answer for every snip and trim made to his beloved saga.

Arwen’s Deleted Battle Scene: A Missed Opportunity in Today’s Call for Representation Karl Urban as Éomer in The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers...

The year 2023 was an embarrassment of riches when it came to animation. Movies like “The Super Mario Bros. Movie” became massive commercial successes and crossed the billion-dollar mark at the box office, while movies like “Nimona” and “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem” hit big with audiences and critics. There were films that boasted wildly different aesthetics and showed the power of the animation medium, like “Blue Giant” and “The First Slam Dunk.” We also saw the return of legendary animator Hayao Miyazaki, who gave us his most personal film to date with “The Boy and the Heron.”

That’s a lot for 2024 to live up to — luckily, it seems the year will bring with it a healthy mix of big studio franchises and more grown-up animated fare. There are still big and highly anticipated animated movies slated to be released in 2024. “Inside Out 2,” Pixar’s mega-blockbuster Oscar favorite,...

The Netflix supernatural mystery series “The Boroughs” from creators Jeffrey Addiss and Will Matthews and executive producers the Duffer brothers has set a star-studded main cast.

Variety has learned that Alfred Molina, Geena Davis, Alfre Woodard, Denis O’Hare, Clarke Peters, and Bill Pullman will all star in the eight-episode series, which was greenlit at the streamer back in April 2023. It was also revealed that Ben Taylor will direct multiple episodes, including the first, in addition to executive producing.

The series’ logline states, “In a seemingly picturesque retirement community, a group of unlikely heroes must band together to stop an otherworldly threat from stealing the one thing they don’t have… time.”

Molina will play Sam in “The Boroughs.” Molina is known for his roles in films like “Frida,” “Boogie Nights,” and his appearances in multiple “Spider-Man” films. Davis will play Renee. She previously appeared in the Netflix series “Glow” and in films like “Beetlejuice,...

Peter Jackson presents a groundbreaking journey back to Middle-earth through the eyes of legendary director Kenji Kamiyama.

#Lotr The War of the Rohirrim – only in theaters December 13.

The highly anticipated trailer for The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim has finally been released, and it’s already stirring excitement among fans of J.R.R. Tolkien’s epic saga.

A Return to Middle-earth

The trailer opens with a sweeping panorama of Rohan’s vast, rolling plains, bringing back the familiar, majestic landscapes that fans have come to love. The iconic Edoras, capital of Rohan, stands tall against a dramatic sky, setting the tone for the epic conflict that is about to unfold. The animation style, while distinctly different from Peter Jackson’s live-action films, retains a sense of grandeur and loyalty to Tolkien’s rich descriptions of Middle-earth.

The Story of Helm Hammerhand

The film, set to be a prequel to the original trilogy,...

The second season of The Rings of Power is almost ready for release and critics seem to be impressed with the show’s sophomore effort. After a divisive first season, however, fans seem to be skeptical about the ordeal. The first season of The Lord of the Rings-based show had many flaws and criticisms despite a good rating from critics.

Many of author J.R.R. Tolkien’s fans were unhappy with how the show treated its source material. Criticisms of the dialogues, writing, and general characterizations were common among multiple reviews and the only positive side to the show seemed to be its VFX and production value.

Fans Are Skeptical About The Rings Of Power Season 2’s High Critic’s Score A still from The Rings of Power | Credits: Amazon Prime Video

Peter Jackson’s The Lord of the Rings trilogy is one of the most celebrated series of films in Hollywood history.

In a world where epic trilogies reign supreme, Peter Jackson’s The Hobbit saga might seem like a journey of triumph. But behind the scenes, the director felt more like a Hobbit lost in Mordor than a wizard at the top of his game. Imagine steering a ship so grand that even the captain starts to feel seasick!

Peter Jackson. | Credit: Mike Walen/Cca-by-sa-3.0/Wikimedia Commons.

Jackson, overwhelmed by the chaos and pressure of the $5.8B franchise, found himself making a desperate request to the studio—a plea so bold it could’ve brought the entire Middle-Earth to its knees. Curious about what had Jackson ready to throw in the towel? Strap on your dwarf boots and prepare for a behind-the-scenes tale that’s as turbulent as Smaug’s wrath!

Peter Jackson opened up about the chaotic filming of The Hobbit trilogy and its impact on the franchise The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey...

A new animated film set in J.R.R. Tolkien’s Middle-earth universe is coming to theaters in 2024. The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim gives viewers a glimpse at a pivotal time period leading up to the events of The Lord of the Rings trilogy.

The film tells the story of Helm Hammerhand, a legendary king of Rohan. As ruler around 183 years before The Fellowship of the Ring, Helm faced a great threat to his people. The movie centers on this conflict and will show Helm’s leadership against darkness growing in Middle-earth. Actor Brian Cox lends his voice to Helm in the English version.

Japanese filmmaker Kenji Kamiyama directs the anime-style movie. He is known for his work on the acclaimed Ghost in the Shell TV series. Screenwriters Phoebe Gittins and Arty Papageorgiou expanded the tale, which was originally a brief passage in Tolkien’s appendices.

The...

New Line Cinema has revealed the official trailer for The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim, an anime feature that returns audiences to the epic world brought to life in The Lord of the Rings trilogy based on the revered books by J.R.R. Tolkien.

The studio has also announced that The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim will be presented at the New York Comic Con in October. Warner Bros. Pictures will release the film in domestic theaters on December 13, 2024, and internationally beginning December 11.

Under the direction of award-winning filmmaker Kenji Kamiyama (the Blade Runner: Black Lotus and Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex TV series), the talented voice cast is led by Brian Cox (Succession) as Helm Hammerhand, the mighty King of Rohan; Gaia Wise (A Walk in the Woods) as his daughter Héra; and Luke Pasqualino (Snowpiercer) as Wulf.

Miranda Otto,...

Warner Bros. has debuted the trailer for the upcoming animated film The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim.

Set 183 years before the events chronicled in the original trilogy of films, the story tells the fate of the House of Helm Hammerhand, the legendary King of Rohan. A sudden attack by Wulf, a clever and ruthless Dunlending lord seeking vengeance for his father’s death, forces Helm and his people to make a daring last stand in the ancient stronghold of the Hornburg. This mighty fortress will later come to be known as Helm’s Deep. Finding herself in an increasingly desperate situation, Héra, the daughter of Helm, must summon the will to lead the resistance against a deadly enemy intent on their destruction.

Under the direction of award-winning filmmaker Kenji Kamiyama (the Blade Runner: Black Lotus and Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex TV series), the...

Warner Bros. unveiled the trailer for the first-ever anime film adaptation of the Lord Of The Ring franchise, titled The Lord of the Rings: The War of Rohirrim, on Aug 22, 2024.

The trailer gives fans their first glimpse into the epic battle between the kingdom of Rohan, led by Héra, and the army of Dunlendings, led by Wulf.

In addition to the trailer, it has been confirmed that the anime will have a presence at New York Comic Con (Nycc), which is set to take place from Oct 17-20, 2024.

“We are also excited to share that The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim will be at New York Comic Con,” the announcement read. Further details regarding this are yet to be revealed.

The Lord of the Rings: The War of Rohirrim is slated to release in U.S. on Dec 13, 2024, and internationally on Dec 11, 2024,

Kenji Kamiyama, known for...

The Lord Of The Rings: The War Of The Rohirrim is heading to cinemas this Christmas – and here’s the first trailer for the film.

We’ve known for several years now that an animated feature film set within The Lord Of The Rings was on the way. There’s lots to get excited about with this project too: an anime filmmaker, the award-winning director Kenji Kamiyama (who directed the excellent Blade Runner: Black Lotus) being given a Hollywood franchise and working with a Hollywood studio, something we don’t see as often as we should.

There’s Brian Cox voicing a legendary King of Rohan. Also, the film is an official extension of Peter Jackson’s revered Lord Of The Rings films. Oh, and the setting is Helm’s Deep, one of the story’s most iconic settings, a highly-defensible fort which means lots of action and daring exploits.

Warner Bros. Pictures has dropped the new trailer for The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim and it looks like an epic animated adaptation. The events of the film are set 183 years before the original film trilogy and it explores the story of the King of Rohan, Helm Hammerhand, and his daughter Héra. Fans are excited about the film after the trailer managed to impress them.

A still from The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim | Credits: Warner Bros.

From the war visuals that remind fans of the original trilogy to the fierce female protagonist, there were a lot of things to love about the new series. Peter Jackson is involved in the series as an executive producer, while one actor from the original trilogy is confirmed to return—Miranda Otto as Éowyn.

The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim Trailer...

This Christmas, The Lord of the Rings director Peter Jackson presents a groundbreaking journey back to Middle-earth through the eyes of award-winning filmmaker Kenji Kamiyama.

In The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim, an original anime feature being released in theaters by New Line Cinema, we'll return to Middle-earth, the iconic world previously brought to life in The Lord of the Rings Trilogy, based on the revered books by J.R.R. Tolkien.

Under the direction of Kamiyama (Blade Runner: Black Lotus), it's been confirmed today that the impressive voice cast is led by Brian Cox (Succession) as Helm Hammerhand, the mighty King of Rohan; Gaia Wise (A Walk in the Woods) as his daughter Héra; and Luke Pasqualino (Snowpiercer) as Wulf.

Miranda Otto, who delivered an unforgettable, award-winning performance in The Lord of the Rings Trilogy, reprises her role as Éowyn, Shieldmaiden of Rohan, who serves as the tale’s narrator.

In the quiet before the storm in The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers, a man who would be king meets a daughter who can never wear such a crown. The man is Aragorn (Viggo Mortensen), son of Arathorn, and the lady is Éowyn (Miranda Otto), niece of the Rohan’s aged and infuriated monarch. They both come from great lineage, with Aragorn even praising Éowyn as being “a daughter of kings” and a shieldmaiden of Rohan. But as the hour grows late, and a foul threat blows from the south, Éowyn’s pride knows no joy.

“Women of this country learned long ago that those without swords can still die upon them,” she intones.

It is one of the best lines in the Lord of the Rings trilogy and it’s taken straight from Professor J.R.R. Tolkien’s text. When considered by itself, this is a grim...

Succession star Brian Cox is the voice of Helm Hammerhand, the sword-wielding King of Rohan, and Gaia Wise voices his daughter Héra, leading the resistance against a deadly enemy in the trailer for New Line Cinema’s anime prequel The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim, which dropped on Thursday.

Set in an epic world 183 years before the events of The Lord of the Rings trilogy, the King of Rohan is forced into a last stand in ancient Hornburg after a sudden attack by the vengeful Wulf, voiced by Luke Pasqualino.

That forces Héra to lead a brave fightback against an enemy intent on their total destruction as the Tolkien world, inspired by books by J.R.R. Tolkien, gets its first big screen heroine. “You know nothing of war,” the King of Rohan tells his daughter dismissively at one point in the teaser trailer.

“I’m the fastest rider you have,...

J.R.R. Tolkien’s epic legendarium is back on the big screen this December, in a way that we’ve never seen Middle-Earth before — as an anime film. Finally, we’ve now got the first trailer for “The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim,” Kenji Kamiyama’s bold new vision of that sword-and-sorcery universe, executive produced by Peter Jackson and Fran Walsh, and released by Warner Bros. Watch it above.

The 58-year-old Kamiyama worked his way up in anime, initially as a background artist on “Akira” and “Kiki’s Delivery Service,” before making his debut as a director with “MiniPato.” He directed several of the “Ghost in the Shell” sequels as well as serving as co-director alongside Shinji Aramaki on “Blade Runner: Black Lotus,” which was a co-production of Crunchyroll and Adult Swim.

Warner Bros. tapped him for “War of the Rohirrim,” a unique expansion of the...

The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim , an upcoming theatrical anime film that serves as a prequel to the events of the live-action The Lord of the Rings films, has published a new trailer. The film hits theaters in the United States on December 13, 2024, and it will also begin international distribution on December 11, 2024. Related: Lord of The Rings: The War Of The Rohirrim Anime Film Delayed to December 2024 Based on characters created by J.R.R. Tolkien, Kenji Kamiyama directs The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim at animation studios Warner Bros. Animation and Sola Entertainment. Warner Bros. describes the film as follows: Set 183 years before the events chronicled in the original trilogy of films, “The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim” tells the fate of the House of Helm Hammerhand, the legendary King of Rohan. A sudden attack by Wulf, a clever...

“The Lord of the Rings” returns this Christmas, in a completely different style — Japanese animation.

Arriving in theaters on Dec. 13, “The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim” hails from executive producers Peter Jackson, Fran Walsh and producer Philippa Boyens, all veterans of the original “Lord of the Rings” series. They have returned for an anime based on the world, from director Kenji Kamiyama. Watch the brand-new trailer below:

The trailer is interesting because it starts off with footage from the live-action “Lord of the Rings” movies, before transitioning to the jaw-dropping animation. The story for “The War of Rohirrim” takes place 200 years before the events of the original trilogy and follows Hèra (voiced by Gaia Wise), a daughter of Helm who goes on a mission to save her kingdom. Brian Cox voices the king of Rohan and Miranda Otto returns to voice Éowyn, who she also played...

Return to Rohan in First Trailer for Animated The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim - Main Image

Every Middle-earth fan may have their eyes set on the premiere of The Rings of Power Season 2 later this month, but Warner Bros. has just dropped a look at another highly anticipated project—The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim.

The film is set to release later this year during the Christmas season, and this first trailer gives us a look at the Land of the Horse Lords hundreds of years before the events of the Lotr trilogy.

Official Trailer for Lotr: The War of the Rohirrim

Lord of the Rings director Peter Jackson is also attached as a producer for the movie, and at the helm is Kenji Kamiyama, known for his work on Ghost in the Shell, Eden of the East, and Akira. Here...

"The boy I knew would never wish for war." Warner Bros has unveiled the first epic trailer for the animated movie The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim, the first big Lotr animated movie to be made. This is set for a theatrical release in December right around Christmas - they're still sticking with the plan to open this on the big screen. Set 183 years before the events of the Lord of the Rings film trilogy, The War of the Rohirrim tells the story of Helm Hammerhand, a legendary king of Rohan, and his family as they defend their kingdom against an army of Dunlendings. Helm goes on to be the namesake for the stronghold Helm's Deep. A sudden attack by Wulf, a clever & ruthless Dunlending lord seeking vengeance for the death of his father, forces Helm Hammerhand, the King of Rohan, and his people to make a daring last stand.

More Middle-earth action awaits: Warner Bros. has released the trailer for the anime feature film “The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim,” set to be released on Dec. 13.

Directed by Kenji Kamiyama, “The War of the Rohirrim” takes place 261 years before the epic events of “The Fellowship of the Ring.” Featuring Helm Hammerhand as the protagonist, the film is based on a story by J.R.R. Tolkien included in the appendices of “The Lord of the Rings.”

Brian Cox voices the iconic King of Rohan, while Miranda Otto, who starred in Peter Jackson’s film trilogy, returns to lend her voice to her original character Eowyn. In the new animated film, the king must defend his land against an army of Dunlendings, in an origin story revealing how the stronghold Helm’s Deep got its name.

Additional cast members include Gaia Wise, Luke Pasqualino, Laurence Ubong Williams and Shaune Dooley.

It seems like it’s been forever. Since first being announced in June 2021, “The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim” has titillated fans with all the possibilities. The film is a semi-rare American anime feature from a major studio, which alone makes it a very intriguing offering from New Line Cinema and Warner Bros. Animation.

While it hasn’t been forever, the “War of Rohirrim” has faced delays due partly to the SAG-AFTRA strikes in the summer of 2023.

Continue reading ‘Lord Of The Rings: The War Of Rohirrim’ Trailer: Kenji Kamiyama’s Much Anticipated Animated Epic Arrives December 12 at The Playlist.

Forth Eorlingas! With The Rings Of Power's return to our screens mere days away, and Andy Serkis' intriguing The Hunt For Gollum movie looming on the horizon, Middle-earth is well and truly back on the menu. But among the projects based on J. R. R. Tolkien's legendary fantasy series heading our way, perhaps most exciting — and certainly most unique — is Lord Of The Rings: War Of The Rohirrim, Ghost In The Shell: Stand Alone Complex director Kenji Kamiyama's upcoming anime movie set two centuries before Peter Jackson's iconic trilogy. Produced by Rings veteran Phillipa Boyens alongside Jackson and Fran Walsh, Kamiyama's film stars Brian Cox as Helm Hammerhand, the club-fisted King of Rohan who gave Helm's Deep its name. And if its jaw-slackening, just-dropped first trailer is anything to go by, War Of The Rohirrim will definitely live up to its name. Check it out below...

Nearly 20 years after "The Return of the King" brought the original "Lord of the Rings" trilogy to a close, fans are about to go on yet another adventure in Peter Jackson's distinctive version of Middle-earth -- and it's utterly unlike anything we've seen from this franchise before. Prime Video's "The Rings of Power" has provided a welcome return to author J.R.R. Tolkien's groundbreaking fantasy world, but the series remains otherwise unconnected to the films that most audiences consider the definitive adaptations of the source material. That all changes with "The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim."

Warner Bros. has finally unleashed the first official trailer for the prequel film (watch above), giving us a chance to sink our teeth into the new footage like Gollum taking a bite out of some fish, raw and wriggling. The official synopsis is as follows:

Set 183 years before the...

One of Japanese animation’s premiere filmmakers, Kenji Kamiyama, is about to march into Middle-earth for The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim, an animated fantasy epic set 183 years before the War of the Ring. With unforgettable animated projects like Napping Princess, Jin-Roh: The Wolf Brigade, East of Eden, and Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex under his belt, today’s The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim trailer demonstrates Kenji Kamiyama’s eye for adventure, emotion, and jaw-dropping fantasy action.

Set 183 years before the events chronicled in the original trilogy of films, The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim tells the fate of the House of Helm Hammerhand, the legendary King of Rohan. A sudden attack by Wulf, a clever and ruthless Dunlending lord seeking vengeance for his father’s death, forces Helm and his people to make...

Everybody wants their piece of the Lord Of The Rings pie. We've discussed the complicated rights to J.R.R. Tolkien's work in the past; Amazon Prime Video has access to a very particular era of Middle-earth for its series The Rings Of Power, while Warner Bros. Pictures has its own Middle-earth empire,...

The Lord of the Rings IP owner Embracer Group saw net sales in its Entertainment & Services division fall sharply in the first quarter of 2024.

The Sweden-based company posted sales of SEK848M ($81M), down 54% year-on-year for the April to June period.

Overall net sales were down 24% to SEK7.93B, with lower numbers posted in its PC/Console Games, Mobile Games and Tabletop Games units. Losses before interest and tax were SEK1.44B, compared with an SEK421M gain a year ago, while adjusted Ebit was SEK828M, versus SEK1.67B.

The results in the PC/Console and Entertainment divisions were broadly in line with expectations due to “lower release activity.”

The company has been restructuring over the past year and today claimed it “is already evident that we are on a path towards significant net debt reduction,” with free cash flow amount to over SEK2B for the first time.