The Battle of the Rohirrim has 4 stars of the Peter Jackson films in the cast – but you have to pay close attention for 2

With the theatrical release of The Lord of the Rings: The Battle of the Rohirrim on December 12, 2024, we can finally experience Middle-earth in the cinema again. In the new fantasy film, the Dunlander Lord Wulf attacks the kingdom of Rohan 183 years before Frodo’s Ring adventure. King Helm Hammerhand stands up to the enemy army in what later became Helm’s Deep. However, it is Helm’s daughter Héra who becomes the true heroine of the story.

These 4 old Lord of the Rings stars return in The Battle of the Rohirrim

The anime The Battle of the Rohirrim by Kenji Kamiyama, like every animated film, brings its characters to life with the voices of actresses and actors. Even though Peter Jackson is only on board as an executive producer this time, several speaking stars from the original cast of his trilogy are returning: two in their old roles and two as new characters. (Warning: spoilers for the film follow.)

Since we were only able to see The Battle of the Rohirrim in English, this information refers to the original voices. Unfortunately, you’ll have to find out for yourself in the cinema whether the German version also uses the well-known Lord of the Rings voice actors.

1. Lord of the Rings return in The Battle of the Rohirrim: Miranda Otto as Eowyn

As Théoden’s daughter Eowyn we learned Miranda Otto in The Lord of the Rings: Knowing the Two Towers. In The Return of the King, she rides into battle disguised as a man and defeats the leader of the Nazgûl. So it’s only right that Rohan’s most combative shield maiden The Battle of the Rohirrim comes into action again – this time as Narratorwhich retrospectively tells of another heroine and ancestor: Éowyn pays tribute to Héra and thus gives the film a vocal framework.

2. Lord of the Rings returns in The Battle of the Rohirrim: Christopher Lee as Saruman

One of the characters who walked in Middle-earth two centuries before Frodo was born was Saruman. The White Wizard is allowed to return for a brief guest appearance, although his actor, Christopher Leedied in 2015. The anime adventure brought the star to life with the help of unused (voice) recordings by Peter Jackson.

3rd and 4th Lord of the Rings returns: Merry and Pippin actors Dominic Monaghan & Billy Boyd as Orcs (Wrot & Shank)

A hidden surprise in The Battle of the Rohirrim is the linguistic cameo of Dominic Monaghan and Billy Boyd. The two stars played the hobbits Merry and Pippin for Peter Jackson, who rose from troublemakers to heroes in the service of Rohan and Gondor. Since Messrs. Meriadoc Brandybock and Peregrin Tuk are not yet alive in the era of the new Lord of the Rings film, they slipped into new roles – as Orcs.

You can discover them with your ears after Hera gets back outside through a secret passage in the Hornburg in the mountains. Here she overhears them Orcs Wrot and Shankwho talk about rings. Anyone who watches the film in the English original will recognize Dominic Monaghan’s mischievous tone as Wrot and Billy Boyd’s Scottish accent as Shank.

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