“I think it’s incredibly important for a younger generation ofLord of the Ringsfans to have a female lead, especially for girls, to have someone, a character like Héra to connect to, to see her growth in the film,” explained Gaia when I recently had the chance to sit down and talk to the film’s cast.
Check outThe War of the Rohirrimtrailer below!
“They’ll see that her vulnerabilities are very obvious but they’re not used as a weakness,” she continued. “They’re used as a strength. Historically, vulnerability has been a weakness with women and I think this being her power is incredibly important, and it was just an absolute joy to be able to bring her to life.”
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“I remember seeing advertisements on buses featuring people of colour starring inThe Rings of Powerand [thinking] that series has potentially opened a new door,” Laurence told me. “I’ve been a fan of The Lord of the Rings since the original movie trilogy and back then, I thought, ‘Wouldn’t it be great as a person of colour to star in a production,’ and here we are. So if a person of colour stars in a leading role one day, then that absolutely should be celebrated.”
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The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrimis one of the most visually stunning movies I’ve had the pleasure of watching in a long time with its anime art style rivalling some of the best productions the genre has to offer.
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“The anime art style is complex and beautiful. Gosh, the artists are the real heroes of this film,” said Gaia, praising those behind the scenes. “I think it lends itself so well to the Tolkien world because of its beautiful landscapes. Seeing this production come together is powerful, soulful, and it’s a marriage that works so well.”
“I’ve seen [director] Kenji Kamiyama’sBlade Runner: Black Lotusseries and how he’d taken Ridley Scott’s sci-fi universe and adapted it into Japanese anime,” Laurence recalled. “I thought, ‘WOW, what a marriage.’ So when I was offered the opportunity to star in his adaptation set in Middle-earth, I wanted to be part of it.”
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“That would be very exciting,” said Gaia with a smile. “With Éowyn, you can see that her strength has been passed down from generation to generation and with Héra, continuing the story of the Shieldmaidens, [it] is possibly something that could be looked into.”
To which Laurence jokingly replied, “Are you hinting?”
“Gallagher knocked it out of the park,” Gaia explained. “The scenes that I did were already very emotional but when I got to play them hearing the music through headphones, I was bawling my eyes out. The soundtrack is an absolute joy.”
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The concept of a Lord of the Rings anime is new to many fans, and to those sitting on the fence as to whether a trip to the cinema is justified, Gaia and Laurence were keen to let us know why this movie is worth every bit of our attention.
“If for nothing else,The War of the Rohirrimis beautiful. It captures the emotion and power of Tolkien’s world,” Gaia explained. “It’s also about family, friendship and courage, an essence captured in the Peter Jackson movies. It’s something that I believe fans will enjoy.”
“Middle-earth and anime is a perfect marriage. It brings Tolkien’s world into the 21st century and I’m so excited to enjoy this movie for myself and others to embrace it,” added Laurence.
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In my review ofThe Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim, I said it’s a captivating tale “brought to life with its heroic story, stunning animation, and excellent performances from top to bottom, and I can’t wait to watch it again and again”.
You canread my interviewwith the director ofThe Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim, Kenji Kamiyama.
The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrimarrives in cinemas on 13 December 2024.
Topics:Features,Interview,TV And Film,The Lord Of The Rings,Warner Bros,Anime
