Set 183 years before the events of "The Lord of the Rings".
Will focus on the history and backstory of Helm's Deep.
This is the sixth animated adaptation of J.R.R. Tolkien's Middle-earth, after:
- The Hobbit (1966) - Hastily-produced short made solely to preserve the rights.
- The Hobbit (1977) - TV production by Arthur Rankin Jr. and Jules Bass.
- The Lord of the Rings (1978) - Theatrical feature by Ralph Bakshi, adapts the first two books.
- The Return of the King (1980) - TV production by Arthur Rankin Jr. and Jules Bass.
- The Hobbit (1991) - Unfinished Soviet production.
Brian Cox appeared in X2 with Ian McKellen as Magneto. Magneto's escape was modeled after Hannibal Lecter's escape in The Silence of the Lambs. Cox played Lecter in Manhunter. In X-Men Origins: Wolverine, Cox's character re-appeared, now played by Danny Huston, whose father John Huston voiced Gandalf in The Hobbit and The Return of the King. Also appearing in that film was Dominic Monaghan, who had played Merry.