The decision to make Hera, the daughter of King Helm Hammerhand, the main character in The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim has been met with controversy. A new clip from the movie has shed light on why Helm Hammerhand being the primary character would have been a mistake. The clip shows Helm Hammerhand, a traditional folk hero, as a powerful and mysterious figure, feared by his own people. His strength and abilities are depicted as surpassing those of ordinary men, and his actions are shrouded in mystery.
Tolkien’s character Helm Hammerhand was known to be impossibly strong, but also full of hubris, which led to his downfall. The clip suggests that the movie is leaning into this folk hero status, portraying Helm as a sort of mythical figure. If the movie had focused on Helm’s perspective from beginning to end, the mystery of his power would have been lost as the character would have become more humanized.
In the clip, Helm sacrifices himself to help his daughter escape into the Hornburg (Helm’s Deep), facing an entire army himself in the cold. This scene is likely the moment that sets Hera on her path to becoming the main character. Through Hera’s perspective, audiences can continue to view Helm Hammerhand as a legendary and heroic figure, making her a more relatable and human character.
The decision to make Hera the main character allows the movie to maintain the mystery and awe of Helm Hammerhand’s character, while providing an more human connection for the audience. The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim is set before the events of the original Lord of the Rings trilogy and is an animated action-adventure fantasy film. It is set to be released on December 13, 2024.
