The Lord of the Rings is getting a new movie. A new anime movie. A new anime movie that’s headed to theaters. This is not a drill!
It was announced today that New Line Cinema and Warner Bros. are partnering up once again for The Lord of the Rings: The War of Rohirrim, a standalone prequel film that will explore the bloody saga of Helm’s Deep, the fortress setting of the legendary battle in The Two Towers, and the man it was named after: Helm Hammerhand, the fabled King of Rohan.
Veteran anime filmmaker Kenji Kamiyama is directing from a script by Jeffrey Addiss and Will Matthews (The Dark Crystal: Resistance). Though Peter Jackson and his team aren’t actively involved in this project – apart from screenwriter Phillipa Boyens in a consulting capacity – he’s said to have given it his blessing and it’s been confirmed to be set in the same continuity as Jackson’s six-part live-action saga.
This is A LOT for fans to take in, then, and social media is full of discussion about the news. What with the Amazon TV series on the way, this wasn’t something we were expecting at all, so LOTR lovers are blown away by the announcement, as you can see below.
ANIME LORD OF THE RINGS LFG https://t.co/7vQkte5iUI
— MTG (@MTG_Media) June 10, 2021
https://twitter.com/JRuthPhipps/status/1403128374671839235
lord of the rings anime is huge hype
— GLOAM (@shaneful_) June 11, 2021
THE LORD OF THE RINGS is my favorite story ever told.
I like anime Quite A Bit.
This idea makes me mad at the continuing franchising of this IP and also the concept is cool as fuck but also UUUUUGGGGHHHHHH anyway
— 🏳️🌈Brendan Agnew🏳️⚧️ (@BLCAgnew) June 11, 2021
A LORD OF THE RINGS ANIME????!!
😱😍😭😁😍😭😱😍😭😱😍😭 https://t.co/Ywm2gHVQsI
— Jesse 💫💜✨ (@f0reverart1stic) June 10, 2021
“My life is complete.”
There’s a Lord of The Rings anime coming out, my life is complete.
— Dallas (@RUM_HAMmer) June 10, 2021
LOTR and anime is a combination that can be so personal.
Lord of the Rings AND anime?! IS THIS FOR ME?
YES. YES IT IS. https://t.co/gUqoBz02Dw
— Deneen Melody 🧡💛🧡 (@DeneenMelody) June 10, 2021
We’re ready.
WAIT WAT?!!!
I’m so ready! https://t.co/NOYDfmQcLD— Anne (@WrathOfBom) June 10, 2021
With happiness, we hope.
crying. dying. 😭 https://t.co/vBSJ0dwBKu
— sour (@sourpriincess) June 10, 2021
Oof, low blow.
It’s not even out yet and I already know it’s going to be better than The Hobbit trilogy. https://t.co/cMPFDiEDAR
— Miles Muad'Dib Morales 🕷 (@th3m1lesm0rales) June 10, 2021
Some fans are even more hyped for this anime than Amazon’s upcoming show.
https://twitter.com/ScottySmurf/status/1403078454006980609
Others are more skeptical, feeling that this could either go one way or the other.
https://twitter.com/abewent5/status/1403066778100539392
To clarify, this anime is disconnected from Amazon’s – ridiculously expensive – series because that will be completely separate from Jackson’s canon. WB is just as excited about this one as the fans, too, as it’s known that they’re fast-tracking it and are keen to make it a reality as soon as possible.
How do you feel about The Lord of the Rings getting an anime prequel, though? Sound off in the comments.