How The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim Will Improve Upon the Originals

The Exciting Prospect of The War of the Rohirrim

The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim is a risk for Warner Bros., but the 2024 movie will likely make Peter Jackson's trilogy even better. The War of the Rohirrim will be the first Lord of the Rings movie to hit theaters since The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies debuted a decade ago. This is no doubt an exciting prospect for diehard J.R.R. Tolkien fans, though the film's animated format and the lackluster response to Amazon's Rings of Power series may threaten the Lord of the Rings franchise's box office streak.

Bernard Hill as King Theoden standing with two soldiers in the rain in The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers

However, if the movie can push past these challenges and draw moviegoers to theaters, The War of Rohirrim stands to improve upon Jackson's beloved series. The film will directly connect to the original story, even though it takes place 250 years before. Despite the gap between the two projects, the animated Lord of the Rings film will shed light on crucial aspects of the trilogy, making it more appealing to longtime fans.

Aragorn, Legolas, and other brave soldiers brave the harsh winds on foot and horseback as they prepare for battle in The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King

Deepening the Storyline of Rohan and Helm's Deep

The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim will deepen a prominent storyline from the original Lord of the Rings movies, digging into the history of Rohan and Helm's Deep. Rohan is among the most important kingdoms in Jackson's trilogy, and it has a lengthy history outlined in Tolkien's writings. Fans of Jackson's movies will recognize the Riders of Rohan and King Theoden, but they might know less about the history of their kingdom and people. The War of the Rohirrim will change this, offering insight into the ninth king of Rohan, Helm Hammerhand, and how the fortress of Helm's Deep came to be.

In this way, the upcoming animated film will make The Lord of the Rings trilogy even better more than 20 years after it ended. The additional context will allow viewers to revisit The Two Towers and The Return of the King with a renewed appreciation for their supporting characters and backdrops. In particular, The Two Towers will be put in a new light, as much of the sequel takes place in Rohan and the final battle is fought at Helm's Deep.

The Perfect Addition to the Lord of the Rings Franchise

The War of the Rohirrim is precisely what the Lord of the Rings franchise needs, especially on the heels of The Hobbit trilogy and The Rings of Power. The animated film will feature just enough details from Jackson's trilogy to attract established fans, but it won't directly interfere with the story. Likewise, it won't attempt to do too much with Tolkien's writings, like The Hobbit trilogy. Assuming it sticks to the author's history, it also won't mess with his lore like Amazon's Rings of Power. All of these are positives for The Lord of the Rings franchise, and they may help The War of Rohirrim reignite excitement surrounding the IP.