In the fantasy animated film "The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim," Saruman will be voiced by Christopher Lee, the actor who portrayed the character in Peter Jackson's films.
According to the film's producer, Philippa Boyens, this decision was made based on a letter from the actor sent before his death in 2015, as well as discussions with Lee's wife, Birgit Kronke (who passed away in early 2024). Attempts to find a new actor with a voice similar to the original Saruman were unsuccessful, reports ITC.
"Kronke stated that Sir Christopher would have actually wanted this," Boyens assures.
"So we went into his recordings, listened to his voice – he didn't just record lines, but also spoke with us during the process," she added.
According to Gizmodo, "The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim" will utilize some lines from Lee's performance in "The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies," including the one where Saruman asks Galadriel if she needs help during their encounter with the Necromancer in Dol Guldur.
As for other original characters, it is already known that Miranda Otto will also reprise her role as Éowyn, as "part of the storytelling mechanism."
The animated film "The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim" takes place 183 years before the events of "The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers" and tells the story of Helm Hammerhand, the legendary king of Rohan, who is attacked by Wulf, the ruthless lord of Dunland, seeking revenge for his father's death.
The premiere of the animated film in Ukraine is scheduled for December 5, 2024.