“Lord of the Rings”: new animation has the franchise’s first female protagonist

When the actress Gaia Wise 25, got the call confirming she had been cast as protagonist of the new animated film “The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim” she screamed so loud that her neighbors called the police.

“The first two people to find out were two Camden police officers,” she recalled in an interview with CNN . “I told them, ‘I got a new job!’ and they looked at me like I was crazy.”

In the upcoming film directed by renowned anime director Kenji Kamiyama, Wise voices Héra, the youngest and only daughter of King Helm Hammerhand of Rohan, played by Brian Cox. Set 183 years before the events of the live-action trilogy, action “The Lord of the Rings” by Peter Jackson, the story centers on Héra and her father’s desperate fight to protect his kingdom, offering fans a new chapter in the history of Middle-earth.

For Wise, a self-proclaimed Tolkienist and longtime fan of the “Lord of the Rings” films, playing Héra is a “profoundly meaningful moment.” “I love the movies. I watch it two or three times a year. I’m a fan of Tolkien, I read the books once, and I think that now as an adult I should return to them”, she shared.

The 24-year-old British actress, daughter of celebrated actors Emma Thompson and Greg Wise, previously appeared in the films “It Had to Be You” (2008) and “For Here and There” (2015) before venturing into anime and getting the role of Princess Rohirrim. “I hope now those police officers see this and think, ‘Oh, I see why she was screaming,’” he joked.

A heroine in command

A collaboration between New Line Cinema and Warner Bros. Animation, the film expands on a brief section of JRR Tolkien’s writings, found in the appendices of “The Return of the King”, where the story of Helm Hammerhand is described in just two pages.

Héra, originally unnamed in Tolkien’s text, now takes the central role in the film — a groundbreaking change, along with its animated format, for the critically acclaimed series that captivated audiences with its adaptations from 2001 to 2003.

While the trilogy included memorable female characters like Arwen (Liv Tyler), Éowyn (Miranda Otto) and Galadriel (Cate Blanchett), it was criticized for not placing any of them at the center of the story. It was only with the release of the Amazon Originals series “The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power” in 2022 that the franchise introduced female protagonists to TV screens, with characters like Galadriel and Bronwyn taking on leading roles.

When we first meet Héra, her world is thrown into chaos when Wulf (Luke Pasqualino), the son of a former ally Freca (Shaun Dooley), arrives with his father to ask for her hand in marriage. Determined and independent, she refuses, and her father, King Helm Hammerhand, rejects the proposal immediately. The situation turns violent when Helm kills Wulf’s father, triggering a conflict. With war breaking out, Héra must rise to the challenge, leading her people against Wulf’s growing forces from the mountain fortress that will later become known as Helm’s Deep.

For Wise, the film brings a more human dimension to the Hammerhand Helm portrayed in Tolkien’s appendices. “They have a wonderful relationship because she never listens to him. But he learns to listen to her and trust her, which adds a nice backstory to the Helm we know,” she said.

Brian Cox, who plays Helm, admitted he could personally relate to the character, describing the father-daughter bond in the film as one of its most touching aspects.

“I have four sons and a daughter. Not that I don’t love my other children more or less, but the relationship between a father and his daughter is special. It’s not like any other relationship,” he said.

Staying true to Tolkien’s world

Philippa Boyens, producer and story consultant on the film, as well as co-writer and co-producer of the “Lord of the Rings” and “The Hobbit” trilogies, says it was clear from the beginning that Héra belonged at the center of this story.

According to Boyens, she has “earned her place” in this chapter of the franchise.

“When you analyze it, she is the heart of the conflict that begins the story. It’s literally a group of men trying to decide what their fate will be. It was always very interesting to ask: “’well, how does she feel about this?’”

Boyens also highlighted Héra’s role in driving the film’s tension, “not all the characters survive the story, so she carried that weight – could she overcome it, survive? It became obvious that she is the one.”

Although lively, Boyens emphasizes that the film quickly immerses audiences in a familiar world, exploring themes of honor, family and loyalty, along with betrayal, jealousy and obsession – all hallmarks of Tolkien’s storytelling.

“Tolkien superimposes story after story into “The Lord of the Rings,” so we already had a sense of what the culture of the Rohirrim is like. We also had Héra’s descendant in Éowyn, who is such a beloved character, and the shieldmaiden tradition to draw on,” explained Boyens.

Superfans will notice the return of Éowyn in this new production, with Miranda Otto reprising her role to narrate the film.

The term shieldmaidens, rooted in Scandinavian folklore, refers to women who took up arms and fought alongside men in battle. The film delves deeper into the folklore, showing Héra gradually embracing and reviving this legacy throughout history.

As Éowyn’s ancestor, Héra naturally invites comparisons to the character. Fans will remember Éowyn’s iconic line, “I am no man,” from the third live-action film, “The Return of the King.” During the Battle of the Pelennor Fields, a disguised Éowyn confronts the Witch-King of Angmar, who declares that no man can kill him. She reveals herself as a woman before delivering the fatal blow.

“I am not a man” is Éowyn’s great final line, and I think Héra really embodies that spirit,” said Wise. “Women’s voices are important, and I hope young women use this film as a gateway into the world of Tolkien that I know and love.”

Watch the trailer for “The Lord of the Rings: War of the Rohirrim”

This content was originally published in “Lord of the Rings”: new animation has the franchise’s first female protagonist on the CNN Brasil website.

Source: CNN Brasil