This winter we shall return to Middle-Earth, for the animated feature War of the Rohirrim, set in the Kingdom of Rohan, 200 years before the events of The Lord of the Rings. From executive producers Peter Jackson and Fran Walsh and award-winning anime director Kenji Kamiyama comes The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim.

In his Middle-Earth, Professor Tolkien created a vast, rich landscape — rich enough for a multitude of adventures: tales of courage and honor, tales of love and legends. This new entry into the perpetually growing body of work that is The Lord of the Rings is, to our great surprise, an animated feature film, and an anime at that. It is the first animated feature film based on LOTR since Ralph Bakshi’s loveable but imperfect Retun of the King in 1980, 44 years ago.

Gaia Wise, Becca in Walk in the Woods (2015) voices the brave and beautiful Princess Hera, and this is her story. She is far more than some helpless princess. She’s the fastest rider the kingdom of Rohan has, and no stranger to the ways of the sword. English actor Luke Pasqualino, Grey in Snowpiercer and William Adama in Battlestar Galactica: Blood and Chrome (2012) voices her would-be suitor Wulf. Emmy-winning Scottish actor Brian Cox, William Stryker in X-Men United (2003) voices Helm Hammerhand, King of Rohan (yes, the Helm of Helm’s Deep). Miranda Otto, who played Eowyn in The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers (2002) will be reprising her role as Eowyn.

Award-winning director Kenji Kamiyama (best known for Napping Princess (2017) is the brains behind this return to Middle-Earth. It will be released December 13, 2024. If you’re looking for a family outing while the kids are on vacation from school, it looks like War of the Rohirrim could be it.

Watch the trailer and decide for yourself if this movie looks worth your hard-earned cash.