The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrimwill copyThe Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power’scontroversial lovers-to-enemies romance tease.The Rings of Powerseason 1 endingconfirmed, beyond all doubt, that the man that Galadriel had spent season 1 getting close to was none other than Sauron himself. This romance tease was non-canonical, putting two of Tolkien’s most diametrically opposed characters into an emotional bind. However, it was commercially unassailable, driving millions of viewers.War of the Rohirrimclearly took note of how the modern lovers-to-enemies trend could apply inLord of the Rings.
Sauron and Galadriel’s feelings were only implied inRings of Power, with other interpretations of their relationship possible. However,Rings of Powerseason 2developed the mutual obsession between the two. Director Charlotte Brändström asserted her own belief in the romance, assessing Sauron’s Halbrand alter-ego in no uncertain terms: “Galadriel obviously was in love with Halbrand. She was very attracted to him” while “Sauron was… disappointed… because… he would have liked… Galadriel as his queen” (Nerdist).War of the Rohirrimwill replicate this dynamic, but may avoid controversy for a few key reasons.
War Of The Rohirrim & The Rings Of Power Both Add The “Lovers-To-Enemies” Trope To Ambiguous Parts Of Tolkien Lore
War Of The Rohirrim Will Copy Rings Of Power’s Commercially Successful “Lovers-To-Enemies” Tease
LikeRings of Power,The War of the Rohirrimmovietook scant source material to create a story that would resonate with modern audiences, centering on a female heroine with a male love interest on the opposing side. In this sense,Rings of Power’sGaladriel and Sauron reflectWar of the Rohirrim’sHèra and Wulf. There was no canonical basis forWar of the Rohirrimto give the main role to Helm’s daughter, an unnamed and insignificant daughter in its source material. Likewise, the movie amplified Wulf’s role, giving him a relationship with Hèra that he never had in the book.
War of the Rohirrimmade Wulf a “bishounen,” which is anime terminology used to describe “pretty boys.” Director KenjiKamiyama could have made Wulf monstrously ugly, which would have worked just as well, as far as the story was concerned. Kamiyama also put Hèra and Wulf’s personal relationship at the heart of the war, with the trailer diving into Hèra’s feelings about how Wulf has changed since childhood, and howHèra fights Wulf(Fréaláf did this in the book). These were active decisions made to create compelling lovers-to-enemies undertones.
War Of The Rohirrim’s Hèra & Wulf Won’t Be As Controversial As Galadriel & Sauron In The Rings Of Power
There Is A Basis For Hèra & Wulf’s Relationship In War Of The Rohirrim
Just like Sauron was nowhere near Galadriel’s love interest in J.R.R. Tolkien’s books, Wulf was nowhere near Hèra’s love interest in the books. However,there is a canonical basis to romantically link Hèra and Wulf, whereas there is none for the Sauron-Galadriel romance tease, which polarized viewers ofRings of Power. In a draft that Tolkien never published while alive, Galadriel met Sauron in Eregion and regarded him with scorn. Meanwhile, Dunlending noble Freca tried to marry Helm’s daughter to his son, Wulf.The violent Helm Hammerhandrefused, setting off a lengthy war.
The Lord of the Rings: The War of The Rohirrimwill be released on July 25, 2025.
Wulf and Hèra’s feelings weren’t made clear on the subject in “The House of Eorl,“War of the Rohirrim’ssource material. This chapter fromLord of the Rings’appendices didn’t put Hèra and Wulf in any storylines together - all Hèra-Wulf moments inWar of the Rohirrimare invented. Butthe movie is based on the conflict created by Hèra and Wulf’s arranged marriage, as is Tolkien’s tale. Hèra and Wulf are barely characterized at all in the book, giving the movie a blank slate, unlike Sauron and Galadriel inRings of Power,who the show altered significantly, dividing fans.
Romantic Tension Has Long Been The Crux Of Hollywood Fantasy
Warner Bros. & Wider Hollywood Both Prioritize Romance In Fantasy
BothRings of PowerandWar of the Rohirrimheavily fabricated their lovers-to-enemies undertones, proving Warner Bros. and wider Hollywood’s preference for a central romance tease to hinge on.One is hard-pressed to think of a modern blockbuster fantasy movie for adults that didn’t have a romance at its core, driving its lead character, even if remotely. For example, theD&DmovieHonor Among Thieves. Warner Bros. is particularly keyed in to this approach, using it unfailingly inThe Lord of the Rings. PeterJackson boosted Arwen’s role to create a convincing Aragorn romance.
The War Of The Rohirrim Copies One Lord Of The Rings Fan Movie That Was Better Than Expected
The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim has one storyline that recalls a Lord of the Rings fan movie that was better than anyone expected.
This was generally well-received, but less soThe Hobbit’sromance invention.The Hobbitcreated the original character Tauriel to fall in love with Dwarf Kili, adding a romance element to center its three-part trilogy around and diverging heavily from its source material, which was one children’s novel. WhileWar of the Rohirrimwill set up romantic tension between Hèra and Wulf, however subtle, it will most likely frustrate it, as per the lovers-to-enemies trope, keeping their marriage faithfully frustrated. The Hèra-Wulf setup reflects an occasionally divisive trend but could be making quite good use of it.
…the Hèra-Wulf dynamic inThe Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrimfits into the modern landscape…
Romantic tension has been the hinge of much Hollywood fantasy for a while, so the Hèra-Wulf dynamic makes commercial and narrative sense. It may keep the movie engaging, adding human interest to a short story.Hèra and Wulf are, after all, on opposite sides of a war, making their bond tragicand nail-biting. More faithful to the books than bothThe HobbitandThe Rings of Powerromances, the Hèra-Wulf dynamic inThe Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrimfits into the modern landscape and may also escape the backlash experienced by the other adaptations.
The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim
Cast
Set before the events of the original Lord of the Rings trilogy, The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim is an animated action-adventure fantasy film that follows a King of Rohan named Helm Hammerhand. When his home comes under siege by Dunlendings, Hammerhand prepares himself and his allies to fight back against them, with the war leading to the eventual establishment of Helm’s Deep.
