December 13th 2024.
As the esteemed producers Phillipa Boyens and Peter Jackson make their long-awaited return to Tolkien's Middle Earth after a decade, the new lead stars are addressing the online backlash.
Their latest project, The Lord of the Rings: The War of Rohirrim, is an epic anime film set 183 years before Frodo Baggins embarks on his journey to destroy the ring. It's a fresh and unique take on the beloved franchise that fans have never seen before. "I've likened it to a dance," says Phillipa, who has been a part of the LOTR world for over two decades. In a recent interview with Metro, she explained, "It's a new era of Tolkien, but it still stays true to the world that fans know and love."
One of the most exciting aspects of this new film is its focus on the female heroine, Hera. She is the daughter of King Helm Hammerhand and is related to the beloved LOTR character, Éowyn. This refreshing new perspective is a welcome change in a genre that has traditionally been dominated by white male characters. However, not everyone is happy about this shift towards diversity. As online trolls post racist and sexist remarks, lead stars Gaia and Laurence Ubong Williams are standing firm against the haters.
Gaia, 25, joked, "Hang on, I've got to figure out a PC version of this," before addressing the backlash. "Look, it is a new era of Tolkien, yes, but it is also the Tolkien that they know and love. Yes, it's now a slightly more female-centric view, but I think that's incredibly necessary to the world and I think it only adds to the films that they know and love. And if they can't get over that, then I don't think they are really fans."
Laurence, a theatre and screen star, agreed, "The essence of what Tolkien has created and the magic that Phillipa and Peter were a part of 20 years ago... none of that has been adulterated by any of the work that we, Kenji or anyone here has put into it. A lot of people are drinking too many flavors of Kool-aid served up by populism on either side. Put the Kool-aid down, just come and see the film."
The plot of the film follows the Rohirrim as they must retreat to safety when their land is thrown into turmoil. It is up to Hera to embrace her destiny and protect her loved ones, making it a classic tale of hope in the midst of darkness. The film also offers plenty of nods to the wider lore for eager fans, as well as a deeper understanding of the heritage of the shieldmaidens of Rohan and how Helm's Deep got its name. In essence, it's a "Tolkien candy shop."
Both Gaia and Laurence are long-time fans of the fantasy world, with Gaia taking inspiration from one of Éowyn's most iconic moments to inform her character. "I think 'I am no man' is absolutely quintessential Lord of the Rings and absolutely informed the way that I voiced her and brought her to life," she shared. "They are both incredibly powerful in different ways and I think Hera finds her power as the film goes on."
In fact, the film goes even further in reclaiming the female perspective, as Hera is not even named in Tolkien's work. While it was not a deliberate decision to elevate a female character, after researching the story, Philippa realized that "she was at the heart of the conflict." This led to the decision to bring back Miranda Otto, who played Éowyn in the original trilogy, to narrate the film, bridging the gap between the old and the new.
"It was wonderful- she is so brilliant," Philippa gushed about Miranda's return to the franchise. "She turned to me when she stepped into the studio and said, 'Phillipa, it may take me a while to find her again,' and it took her five minutes. She was there. And afterwards she said, 'I just know this character.' She has such a strong sense of her, and that never left her, even after nearly 20 years. It was still there."
As for the choice to make the film in anime format, Philippa spoke about the brilliance of the medium. "I completely understand that for some fans, watching Lord of the Rings in anime form might be a little disconcerting or they may have doubts that they won't be able to fall into the world," she said. "All I can say to them is, 'Do yourself a favor, go see it in a cinema. I think it's really, really going to surprise you.' Anime is a beautiful art form."
While Hera is at the heart of the film, audiences also get a heartfelt insight into her relationship with her father, Helm, and her struggle to prove herself to him. For Laurence, who is best known for his role as Logan Roy in Succession, this was his first time delving into Tolkien's world. "I was never into the books," he joked. "So when everyone started getting cast, except me, for Lord of the Rings, I looked into what was going on. I just knew this show was going to happen, and of course, this whole New Zealand unit was astonishing, and the work was just amazing, and grand scale too."
He continued, "As a Celt, there's something very Celtic about the whole story, the landscape, and the sense of the land- it could easily be Scotland and the Highlands."
At 78 years old, Laurence is no stranger to playing complex patriarchs on screen. In recent years, he has gained critical acclaim for his role as Logan Roy, a character with many parallels to Helm. "I could see their effect as the products of the patriarchal system," he shared. "They are the near-extreme products of that system and power and the need for power. Usually, there's always something in childhood which tells a slightly different story of which way something is going, and I think Helm had that element about him, that he became the man he was because of something in his past."
And as for what we can learn from Helm's character growth in the film, Laurence had but one reflection. "I think Helm is acknowledging that the patriarchy is over and the growth of the mistress. We had the patriarchy, and now we need a female one- not rampant, but just whole."
The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim is now playing in cinemas. If you have a celebrity story, video, or pictures, get in touch with the entertainment team at The Agency by emailing us, calling 020 3615 2145, or visiting our Submit Stuff page- we'd love to hear from you.
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