NYCC: ‘LOTR: The War of the Rohirrim’ Drops New BTS Video

Timed to Friday’s New York Comic Con panel, Warner Bros. Animation has unveiled a fascinating look behind the scenes of its anime Tolkien epic The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim. Produced by WBA and Sola Entertainment Production, the feature film will release in theaters nationwide through New Line on December 13; international releases begin Dec. 11.

Moderated by Stephen Colbert, the panel discussion included director Kenji Kamiyama (Blade Runner: Black Lotus, Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex); producers Philippa Boyens (screenwriter, The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit trilogies), Jason DeMarco (SVP Anime & Action, Warner Bros. Animation & Cartoon Network Studios), Joseph Chou (Blade Runner: Black Lotus); writers Arty Papageorgiou & Phoebe Gittins; and voice stars Brian Cox (Helm Hammerhand), Luke Pasqualino (Wulf) and Gaia Wise (Héra).

The event opened with a teaser for the movie, set to the “Rohan” score theme from Peter Jackson’s LOTR movies, before Colbert introduce a multi-clip real narrated by Miranda Otto (Eowyn from LOTR). The footage included hints of an eerie figure stalking the soldiers of Rohan (rumored to be the fallen King Helm returned from the dead). Helm’s daughter, Héra, pursues it into the deep recesses of the keep, only to find herself facing a terrible beast.

Also revealed and shortly thereafter launched online is a new “Making of Tapestry” video, which gives fans a glimpse at the layered and detailed process of creating a key visual for the film, inspired by the rich trove of illustrations, maps and music from Tolkien’s story-world. You can watch the BTS clip below.

Synopsis: 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, Héra, the daughter of Helm, must summon the will to lead the resistance against a deadly enemy intent on their total destruction.

The voice ensemble also includes Lorraine Ashbourne (Bridgerton), Yazdan Qafouri (I Came By), Benjamin Wainwright (World on Fire), Laurence Ubong Williams (Gateway), Shaun Dooley (The Witcher), Michael Wildman (Fast and Furious Presents: Hobbs & Shaw), Jude Akuwudike (Beasts of No Nation), Bilal Hasna (Sparks) and Janine Duvitski (Benidorm).

The previously released trailer for The War of the Rohirrim can be viewed here.