When they suggested anime, that’s when my brain really started whirring, Boyens tellsEntertainment Weekly.
Immediately, the idea of telling this story came to me.
It speaks to certain things that work really well with Japanese storytelling.
Héra (voiced by Gaia Wise) in ‘The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim'.Courtesy Warner Bros. Pictures
Why did his lineage have to end with him?
We live in an age where, all over the world, we face the reality of war again.
What, then, is power?
Wulf (voiced by Luke Pasqualino) in ‘The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim'.Courtesy Warner Bros. Pictures
What is the responsibility of those who possess it?
It is something they need to think about by thinking together with those who dont.
Boyens and screenwriter Phoebe Gittins expanded on Tolkiens original story.
In particular, they wanted to give a certain character her own name.
We know Helm has a daughter, and we know that she was central to the conflict that happened.
But myself, and especially screenwriter Phoebe Gittins, were drawn to her.
How did she live?
InThe War of the Rohirrim, Helms daughter is named Hera, and shes voiced by Gaia Wise.
She would lay down her life for her people, Wise says.
Comparing her to Arwen and Eowyn, theyre already fully formed women.
What I loved about Hera is shes fierce, shes complex, shes rebellious.
Hera might have her match, though, in the films antagonist.
Wulf, voiced by Luke Pasqualino, is leading the armies of Dunlendings against Helms kingdom.
We have an exceptionally great antagonist in this story, Boyens says.
Hes just human, and in some ways, that makes him even more dangerous.
He speaks so directly to a lot of the crises that we’re facing today, Boyens says.
Hes a really fascinating character and exciting too.
