Every Cameo In The Lord Of The Rings: The War Of The Rohirrim Explained

As a longtime fan of J.R.R. Tolkien’s Middle-earth, I found “The War of the Rohirrim” to be a delightful and immersive journey that paid homage to the source material while still offering fresh perspectives. The cameos in this animated film were particularly noteworthy, as they served as nostalgic reminders of our beloved characters from the books and films.

Hey there fellow gamer! Just a heads-up before we dive in, this piece might unveil some significant plot twists from the epic saga known as “The War of the Rohirrim.” Proceed with caution if you’re aiming to keep those surprises intact!

As a gamer, I eagerly awaited the release of “The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim” on December 13th in U.S. cinemas. Despite being aware that this Warner Bros. production had a smaller scale and different focus, moving the franchise from live-action to anime, I was pleasantly surprised by how seamlessly it incorporated several entertaining cameos from Peter Jackson’s iconic “Lord of the Rings” trilogy into its narrative.

During its lengthy 2 hours and beyond, we spotted no fewer than six cameos, plus an additional notable reference. Whether you’ve recently left the cinema, are about to go, or are preparing to stream it months later, here are the delightful callback moments you shouldn’t miss.

Miranda Otto reprises her role as Éowyn

As a gamer, I’m diving right into the world of Middle Earth, starting with Miranda Otto, who brought to life Éowyn, the courageous Shield Maiden of Rohan. In “The Two Towers” and “The Return of the King,” she transformed from despair to becoming an instrumental figure in the War of the Ring, delivering a decisive blow that felled the Witch-king.

In “War of the Rohirrim,” Otto is not present physically on screen because this anime is set approximately 236 years before her birth. However, Otto returns to narrate the story in this production. While Éowyn’s background isn’t heavily explored, you can catch glimpses of it throughout the movie, including the origins of Hèra and the demise of Helm Hammerhand.

It was no surprise when the Australian actor made his comeback, as his involvement with the project had been announced about two and a half years prior. Yet, the addition of Eowyn’s composed, somber narration, sharing tales of Rohan’s most monumental tragedies, beautifully integrates an actor from the initial experience into the storyline.

Dominic Monaghan and Billy Boyd make Treebeard’s words come true

Two surprise appearances that were unveiled mere moments before the movie’s debut belonged to Dominic Monaghan and Billy Boyd. Both actors are renowned for their lively portrayals of the hobbits Meriadoc Brandybuck (played by Monaghan) and Peregrin Took (portrayed by Boyd) in Peter Jackson’s trilogy.

In contrast to Miranda Otto reprising her role, the Rohirrim actors adopt gruff Orcish dialogue in “War of the Rohirrim.” Their brief appearance (as Orcs have a minor role in this grim tale of Human conflict) is marked by their voices, discernible amidst the snuffling and growls. Unfortunately, their scenes are abruptly ended when Helm, in a frenzy, falls from above, slaying them in a blind, furious fit.

It’s worth mentioning that these actors, who aren’t playing their original characters, have made appearances. Looper stated over a year ago that Monaghan and Boyd should appear as older versions of their roles since Rohan is depicted as an elderly character in the books. Despite this, their Orc cameos are enjoyable and, interestingly, tie back to the source material. In “The Two Towers,” Treebeard initially mistakes them for orcs due to their small size, much like how he had almost killed them. It appears that Treebeard’s prediction from the books has come true in a roundabout way.

Christopher Lee returns from the grave to voice Saruman

Indeed, you’ve correctly understood the title. Sir Christopher Lee, known for his unstoppable enthusiasm, has had a deep connection with J.R.R. Tolkien’s works for many years. Not only did he meet Tolkien personally, but he also made it an annual tradition to read the “Lord of the Rings” trilogy. Remarkably, this esteemed actor portrayed Saruman the White Wizard in both the “The Lord of the Rings” and “The Hobbit” film series.

Sadly, Lee passed away in 2015, barely a year after the last movie in the series was released. He’s among a small group of “Lord of the Rings” actors who have sadly left us in the two decades since the initial trilogy premiered. However, even though he’s no longer with us, Lee’s character Saruman makes a brief comeback in “War of the Rohirrim.” The animated Saruman strongly resembles Lee’s portrayal, and it’s his voice that you hear when he speaks.

Philippa Boyens, the producer, explained how they managed to include Cate Blanchett in the movie posthumously. It wasn’t through AI but by reusing an unused recording from “The Hobbit” series for the anime. This means that audiences are hearing Blanchett’s voice as the Wizard for the first time in this film, even though she had already passed away before production began. It’s a delightful tribute to one of cinema’s iconic Middle-earth characters.

Bernard Hill shows up in spirit and text

In this instance, it’s not a significant appearance, but rather a tribute, and it features an actor from “Lord of the Rings” who sadly didn’t get to witness the release of “War of the Rohirrim.” Tragically, Bernard Hill, a renowned figure, passed away mere months before the premiere of “War of the Rohirrim,” making it fitting to acknowledge his iconic role as the commander of the cavalry in Peter Jackson’s “Lord of the Rings” movies.

As the credits conclude, a heartfelt tribute titled “In Memory Of” appears on screen, honoring the late Bernard Hill, our esteemed king of Rohan, who lived from 1944 to 2024 in Middle-earth’s realm. This touching acknowledgment symbolizes Hill’s profound influence on Middle-earth enthusiasts. Yet, it merely scratches the surface of the lasting impact that Bernard Hill, as Théoden, continues to have — if one delves deeper into the subtext.

As a gamer immersed in this world, the “War of the Rohirrim” experience feels like a grand homage to Théoden’s tale. It echoes his words, such as the powerful speech before charging into battle, reminiscent of Helm’s Dike. And just like Théoden, Hera stands firm against evil, embodying his unyielding spirit throughout the game. Whether you consider it in spirit or text, this anime pays tribute to Hill in numerous ways.

The Watcher in the Water makes a terrifying appearance

In “The War of the Rohirrim”, not only humans appear as cameos, but there are also numerous well-known Tolkien creatures that make an appearance on the screen. The storyline heavily features horses due to the land of Rohan, while Oliphaunts, a notable species, play significant roles from the beginning and receive considerable screen time.

One beast that shows up for a short (but wild) duration is the Watcher in the Water. The multi-armed monstrosity first appears in “The Lord of the Rings” when it attempts to stop the Fellowship of the Ring from getting into Moria. That source material reveals that the creature has been there for years at that point, guarding the watery entrance to the mines. It also explains that the water has crept into the area over time, which makes it feasible to imagine that, hundreds of years earlier, the Watcher in the Water could have been in a different but relatively nearby location — like the forested edges of Rohan. (The other option, of course, is that this is a relative of that older creature.)

This scene unfolds with the Watcher engaging in a fierce battle against an enraged Oliphaunt, all while pursuing Hera. A fearsome creature, part sea serpent and part octopus, seizes the land beast, devours it entirely, offering an intriguing thought experiment: What might have transpired for Frodo on the threshold of Moria if his valiant companions hadn’t stepped in to save him?

Gandalf’s many names come up

Our last cameo is one that takes place in words only. To be clear, Gandalf doesn’t appear in this film, but he is named in it. In fact, the brief line where Hèra brings him up references every one of Gandalf’s names.

2021’s been quite a rollercoaster ride for me as the old, grey-robed gamer version of Gandalf. The chatter about Ian McKellen possibly reprising his role as the Grey Wizard for another Jackson-led Middle-earth flick got everyone talking, and then there’s the Prime Video series “The Rings of Power” unveiling The Stranger as their take on a younger Mithrandir. Now, I’m finding myself referenced in an anime film! What an exciting turn of events for this gaming adventure we call life!

It seems as if everything comes down at once, doesn’t it? Regrettably, much like with Saruman, we didn’t witness a real-life portrayal of the Wizard on screen. However, fret not! With Warner Bros.’ upcoming “The Hunt for Gollum” film, there’s a high likelihood that we’ll once more be treated to some live-action Gandalf in the near future.

2024-12-16 21:30