Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim is one of the year’s most anticipated movies. It’s the first cinematic return to the world of Middle-earth since the release of The Battle of the Five Armies almost ten years ago, and the first movie in the franchise to be animated. For the most part, the story stands by itself. It takes place about two hundred years before the start of Lord of the Rings, and therefore, features no (major) returning characters and exists pretty much in its way.

However, the film would be more meaningful when considered in conjunction with the events of one entry into the Lord of the Rings trilogy. Because it features the Battle of Helm’s Deep and highlights the importance of the Riders of Rohan, The War of the Rohirrim will makeThe Two Towers infinitely more meaningful in the long run.

What Is Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim?

Character in War of the Rohirrim
Who Plays Them?

Helm Hammerhand
Brian Cox

Hera
Gaia Wise

Wulf
Luke Pasqualino

Freca
Shaun Dooley

Eowyn
Miranda Otto

The War of the Rohirrim takes a small portion of the appendices of The Return of the King and spreads it out into a fully-fledged story ripe for audiences to dive into. “The House of Eorl,” which originates in Appendix A of Tolkien’s masterpiece, sheds some light on the life of the fabled warrior and legendary King of Rohan Helm Hammerhand. It’ll focus on the conflict between him and the Dunlendings, the consistent enemies of Rohan throughout the realm’s history. This war broke out after Freca, one of the leaders of the Dunlendings, marched into Edoras and demanded that Helm Hammerhand’s daughter Hera be married to his son Wulf. When Hammerhand refused this, he killed Freca with a single blow and dismissed his entire bloodline as enemies of the realm of Rohan. Years later, Wulf decided to take his revenge – setting the stage for the conflict in The War of the Rohirrim.

The War of the Rohirrim boasts one of the most impressive casts and crews of any upcoming film. It’s directed by Kenji Kamiyama, who astute fans may recognize as the mind behind some of the episodes of Star Wars Visions, Blade Runner: Black Lotus, and the acclaimed Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex. Most impressively, however, he worked on Kiki’s Delivery Service, one of the most beloved entries to Studio Ghibli’s filmography and one of the most celebrated animated movies of all time. The direction of this story is in good hands. The script is being treated with the same level of care. Philippa Boyens, who worked on the original Lord of the Rings trilogy, collaborates with Kenji Kamiyama on the story. The actual script, however, will be penned by Phoebe Gittens, Boyens’ daughter.

The cast is just as star-studded as the production efforts themselves. Brian Cox, perhaps best known for his starring role as the elderly Logan Roy on Succession, takes on the role of Helm Hammerhand, lending his distinctive voice to the hero of Rohan. Gaia Wise, who doesn’t have a massive career yet but who will certainly be a star after her appearance in this film, appears as Hera, the daughter of Helm Hammerhand who’s being billed as the movie’s protagonist. Perhaps most excitingly, Miranda Otto returns to her role as Eowyn – though the Shieldmaiden of Rohan likely won’t appear on-screen in the film. Rather, she narrates the movie as though she is telling the tale herself to the audience (which may explain why it primarily centers on Hera rather than on Helm Hammerhand himself).

The Two Towers Provides Necessary Context for Helm’s Deep

The War of the Rohirrim was released in theaters on December 13, 2024.

Famously, Helm Hammerhand lends his name to Helm’s Deep – one of the most highly featured locations in the Lord of the Rings series. It’s a gorge that lies beneath the Thrihyrne, one of the most significant peaks in the White Mountains in the Westfold. It’s situated near the Glittering Caves, which turned out to be a valuable refuge for those who had to seek shelter there during the War of the Ring and its carnage. Helm Hammerhand took shelter here during one of his campaigns against the Dunlendings. The Long Winter halted any progress he could have made against his enemies, as it ravaged Middle-earth and trapped him within the mountain. He wouldn’t have even been able to get food were it not for his soldiers’ willingness to conduct raids on the Dunlendings in search of supplies rather than glory. This also gave the Dunlendings the upper hand in the war in the first place. They managed to make it to Edoras, and Wulf even went so far as to declare himself king during Helm Hammerhand’s absence. When the winter ended, however, the tide turned in Hammerhand’s favor. The thaw brought forth great floodwaters that Hammerhand’s nephew Frealaf used in his favor and removed the Dunlendings from the realm, therefore allowing Rohan to rise victorious in this conflict.

Therefore, The Two Towers is one of the most important pieces of context that the series can provide to this upcoming entry. It highlights the Battle of Helm’s Deep in its entirety and demonstrates how it remained an important locale to the people of Rohan even years after the death of its namesake. When Saruman’s fearsome Uruk-hai encroaches on Edoras, its citizens search for a place to find shelter. They embark on the tiring journey to Helm’s Deep not long after that. They assume it’s one of the safest places in Middle-earth – after all, in the years since its creation, nobody had ever managed to breach the fabled Deeping Wall. However, things go awry when Saruman’s forces begin to overrun the stronghold. The people of Rohan do eventually manage to win this conflict, as Gandalf arrives on the scene at first light on the fifth day, just as he promised when he departed. As the morning breaks, they prove their superiority over their evil foes, securing victory at Helm’s Deep and allowing the light of Middle-earth to prevail for another day.

The Two Towers Introduces the Rohirrim, Who Are Fundamental to The War of the Rohirrim

Given that they lend their name to the movie, it can only be assumed that the Riders of Rohan – also known as the Rohirrim – will be essential components of The War of the Rohirrim. The group originally descended from the Northmen of Rhovanion, and they became allies of Gondor when they swore the Oath of Eorl. They were characterized by their bravery and their independence, though they worked well together as a team when the time called for it. The most important feature of the Rohirrim, however, was the close bond they shared with their horses. Their culture centered around the animals. They lived only in regions that were conducive to the livelihood of their steeds – which is why they settled for so long in the Mark, which was a beautiful grassland perfect for riding long distances and with lots of grazing room.

The Rohirrim also played a major part in the Lord of the Rings saga. At their first appearance, they’re not on great terms with the realm – Theoden, acting under the influence of Grima Wormtongue, exiled them – and they spend their days wandering through the world, doing good in any situation that needed them, but without any real purpose. They aid Aragorn, Gimli, and Legolas in their search for Merry and Pippin after their disappearance. However, their greatest wish remained to return to the place they called home. Gandalf ventured out to find them right before the outbreak of the Battle of Helm’s Deep. When he returns with them, it turns the tides of the battle in their favor, and they go on to be some of the most valuable members of the forces for good throughout the rest of the War of the Ring. Without the information provided about them in The Two Towers, their early stages in The War of the Rohirrim wouldn’t be nearly as satisfying, and therefore, The Two Towers should be considered essential information to understand the new film.