Lord of the Rings: War of the Rohirrim director explains why Gandalf doesn’t appear

by

As a devoted Tolkien enthusiast who has spent countless hours immersed in Middle-earth, I must say that “The War of the Rohirrim” has left me both intrigued and eagerly anticipating what’s to come. The absence of Gandalf in this prequel is a bit disappointing, but the clever use of his name-drop hints at a deeper connection to the original trilogy that I find absolutely captivating.

In the thrilling continuation of Lord of the Rings, titled “The War of the Rohirrim”, I, a dedicated gamer, find myself immersed in a world where an old foe makes his chilling comeback: Saruman. However, unlike the previous adventures, Gandalf is nowhere to be found. Instead, his name is subtly mentioned towards the movie’s conclusion. The reason for his absence is intriguingly hinted at, leaving me eagerly anticipating his potential return in the next installment.

The Battle of the Rohirrim is now playing in theaters! This story unfolds 180 years prior to the Lord of the Rings trilogy and doesn’t revolve around the One Ring or Sauron. Instead, it focuses on a different chapter in Middle-earth’s history.

Nevertheless, this tale is crucial and takes place during the Third Age. It centers around Hera, the child of Helm Hammerhand, the ninth ruler of Rohan, who was also the one responsible for bestowing the heroic name upon Helm’s Deep. In a brawl, he unintentionally slays a Dunlending lord, and his son Wulf swears to avenge this death, triggering a conflict that eventually leads to a new dynasty of kings.

It’s not necessarily suggesting that no old acquaintances are present: Indeed, Saruman, voiced by Christopher Lee from previous recordings, makes an appearance. However, Gandalf, though mentioned, does not physically show up in the scene.

Gandalf’s name-drop had an important purpose in War of the Rohirrim

The conflict among the Rohirrim concludes as Hera departs from Edoras in search of Gandalf, eager for a discussion regarding her observations at Helm’s Deep. More precisely, she witnessed Orcs gathering rings, intending to transport them to Mordor.

This is quite an impactful scene, considering the character isn’t deeply rooted in the original stories (she doesn’t even have a name in J.R.R. Tolkien’s texts). It hints at the possibility that she might assume a more significant part in Middle-earth’s future than what has been revealed so far.

In an interview conducted to celebrate its premiere, TopMob spoke with filmmaker Kenji Kamiyama about the absence of Gandalf in the movie and whether there had been any thought given to featuring Sir Ian McKellen in a brief appearance.

“ At this stage, we don’t have plans to make him appear in future movies,” he explained.

However, merely receiving a letter from Gandalf or hearing his name, we aimed to illustrate the interconnectedness of our world with the trilogy.

In addition to the storyline, Saruman was included in this film to emphasize the interconnectedness of the world. Moreover, it’s worth mentioning that orcs were portrayed searching for the rings and similar events.

Philippa Boyens, one of the writers from the initial trilogy, explained that the reference was primarily to incorporate the original live-action movies into this specific film, thus giving it a distinct feeling reminiscent of “The Lord of the Rings” series.

Additionally, we aimed to revisit the mystery surrounding the room, their activities within, and the reason for their presence – a plot point unfolding. However, we were unsure about Hera’s departure and her destination. He appeared to be an ideal candidate for that role.

Additionally, we inquired from Boyens about whether Aragorn would be re-casted in “The Hunt for Gollum,” and she disclosed the single “Lord of the Rings” novel she yearns to secure the rights to adapt.

Read More

2024-12-14 17:20