The Lord of the Rings, considered one of the most important fantasy sagas in history, continues to expand its legacy with new releases and productions. The next film in the franchise, titled The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim, will premiere on Max Spain on February 28, 2025, three months after its debut in theaters. A story worthy of the trilogy… but with animation This new installment is set 183 years before the events of the original trilogy, focusing on the legendary figure of Helm Hammerhand, the King of Rohan, […]
The Lord of the Rings, considered one of the most important fantasy sagas in history, continues to expand its legacy with new releases and productions. The next film in the franchise, titled The Lord of the Rings: The War of the Rohirrim, will premiere on Max Spain on February 28, 2025, three months after its debut in theaters.
This new installment is set 183 years before the events of the original trilogy, focusing on the legendary figure of Helm Hammerhand, the King of Rohan, and his confrontation with Wulf, a villain seeking revenge for his father’s death. The film, directed by Kenji Kamiyama, known for his work on titles like Blade Runner: Black Lotus and Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex, promises to offer a fresh and complex view of the universe created by J.R.R. Tolkien.
The voice cast includes notable talents such as Brian Cox, Gaia Wise, Miranda Otto, and Luke Pasqualino, who will add their mark to the narrative. However, despite the enthusiasm, the film has had a modest box office performance, grossing around 20 million dollars against the 30 million it cost, becoming the least successful production in the Middle-earth saga.
Despite the numbers, critics have praised the quality of the animation and the narrative depth. The film has been acclaimed for its exploration of lesser-known aspects of Tolkien’s universe, suggesting that it may find a more appreciative audience upon its arrival on streaming platforms. Fans of the saga are eagerly awaiting this new adventure in the realms of Middle-earth, which will undoubtedly enrich its vast mythology.
Get ready to battle for the future of Middle Earth!
Jeff Bezos must be on a Tolkien kick, because now Amazon’s got two big Lord of the Rings projects in the works: A Lord of the Rings TV series which looks like it might land some time in 2021, and now they’re officially working on an MMO set in Middle Earth as well.
The Lord of the Rings is a logical setting for an MMO – so much so that this isn’t the first time it’s been done. For those of you who can remember back as far as 2007, you might know that The Lord of the Rings Online was (and still is) a thing. Developers Standing Stone and Daybreak are the current benchmark for such a product, and with Amazon’s production and development budget we’re excited to see what they can give us.
For better or for worse, the MMO will have nothing to do with the upcoming TV series. Amazon has since confirmed that the two are unrelated and are being developed independently of each other. It’s an odd choice considering that both projects are allegedly set thousands of years before The Hobbit and the War of the Ring trilogy.
Hopefully the King will return in a later game
We have to admit a little disappointment not to be seeing some of our favorite characters from Peter Jackson’s trilogy (though we suppose they could throw in an immortal character like Gandalf if they so choose), but are anxious to see what they do with “the time that is given to them.” Athlon has described the MMO as “an online game set in the world of Middle-earth at a time long before the events of The Lord of the Rings, exploring lands, people and creatures never seen before by fans of the Tolkien universe.”
Does it have a title?
It certainly will! Alas, there’s nothing official yet.
Which platforms can play the game?
Amazon has said the game will be playable both on PC and on console. We hope they’re planning for cross-platform compatibility; we’ve already got eight friends who’d make a great fellowship, and not all of them play on PC.
Legolas and Gimli might not play on the same platform
When’s the game coming out?
Not soon enough! Amazon hasn’t revealed a release window yet, but we’re probably looking at 2021 earliest, considering how much time and development goes into a polished product like this’ll need to be.
Though the MMO and TV series will be unrelated to each other, with two major projects set in Tolkien’s world there’s no doubt the public’s gaze will be set on Middle Earth in the coming years.
Stay tuned with Softonic for more information as it’s made available, and watch that first step off of Khazad-dum; it’s a doozy.
Are you more Frodo than Sam? Take our quiz to find out!
From sons of stewards to ring bearers to extremely devoted gardeners, the fellowship created at Rivendell was an unprecedented assortment of heroes from all across Middle Earth, each with their own heroic qualities and talents. Are you an elegant elf, or a rough-and-tumble dwarf warrior? Take our quiz and find out!
Happy with your answer? You could try taking it again, but do not trust a hope; it has forsaken these lands (just kidding. Go ahead and refresh the page).
From Overwatch to the MCU, these staffs put most other weapons to shame!
Oh, yeah. There’s gonna be a lot of Gandalf.
Grab your wizard hat, double-edged straight sword, and haversack of rations, because we’re going on an adventure!
If you were like us as a kid, after reading a good fantasy novel or watching a particularly exciting movie, you went outside and played with sticks. You imagined they had the power to shoot flames, summon shields, or turn people into frogs.
Why? Because magical staffs are awesome! Whether they channel a user’s inherent energy, like Gandalf’s staff, or possess wild magic of their own, like Wabbajack, each of these iconic scepters contain the stuff of dreams, nightmares, and more.
So, let’s talk about the…
Top 10 Magical Staffs in Pop Culture
10. Jafar’s staff
Ew. Creep.
Before Jafar takes over Agrabah, fights Aladdin, and turns into a wildly powerful genie of darkness, his staff is nothing short of memorable. The moment he dials in on Jasmine’s father, the Sultan, with those jeweled snake eyes and turns a once-proud man into his personal flying monkey, there’s no forgetting his staff!
Seriously. If you saw a costume-less person on Halloween holding a snake scepter, we’re willing to bet you’d think: “Huh, where’s the rest of their Jafar getup?” Trust us, it’s true.
But let’s ask the real questions here: does Jafar use his own magic? Does the staff have power itself? Is he a magician because he found the staff, like Aladdin found the lamp? Is Jafar, at heart, just another street rat dreaming of becoming a prince, who took a wrong turn toward the dark side? Is his mother named Martha?
If you haven’t seen “Rise of the Guardians,” we recommend it!
Jack Frost, the main character, teams up with Earth’s guardians, the Avengers! Wait, no, he joins holiday heroes like Santa, the Tooth Fairy, Easter Bunny, and Sandman. Together, they battle Pitch, the veritable lord of nightmares.
But forget all that for now. Look at Jack’s staff!
It is shaped like an avant-garde shepherd’s crook and made of either a gnarled branch or a bunch of brown paper towels wrapped around PVC pipe. This staff creates ice and cold when used by Jack Frost. Generally, he just brings winter to Earth, but when children are in danger of Pitch’s nightmare-scape, he’ll essentially become Frozone from “The Incredibles.”
We’re pretty sure Jack Frost’s staff isn’t the source of his true power, because he became a guardian after saving his brother from ice. THEN he gained frost magic, so it was inside him all along! Isn’t that nice?
8. Mercy’s Staff (Caduceus)
Source: ZaziNombies Lego Creations
In the picture above, the cosplay staff was made entirely of Legos.
Now, about the staff: anyone who’s played Overwatch knows the importance of healers. No healer is better known than the techno-angelic Mercy, who uses her staff to heal teammates while they fight. We aren’t exaggerating when we say a good medic makes the difference between life and death, victory and defeat.
Wouldn’t it be great if your teammates didn’t also verbally abuse you while playing healer? That would be awesome.
If so, you’ve probably seen the Sailor Moon girls. And if you’ve seen the Sailor Moon girls, you’ve probably seen their awesome staffs!
Each one of the Sailors has their own staff, but Sailor Moon herself wields the Moon Stick. The Moon Stick allows Sailor Moon’s alter ego to transform into Sailor Moon. It also allows her to launch attacks such as the Moon Healing Escalation Attack.
If you haven’t seen “Sailor Moon,” do yourself a favor and check it out on Crunchyroll.
Never forget, in the original animated film, this staff performed some of the most exciting and versatile feats of magical power ever to be seen in a Disney movie.
5. Shazam’s Staff
The recent release of Shazam contained what we believe to be a seriously underrated staff! Simply by touching it and saying the wizard “Shazam”s name, orphan Billy Batson turns into a superhero!
While the staff doesn’t actually produce ice, control minds, or open portals like you’d expect from something on this list, it’s still awesome. We believe the ability to turn anyone into a super-strong, lightning-powered hero who can fly gives it a firm bid for Number 5, at least.
Few character introductions hold a candle to that of Gandalf the White. He appears in a flash of glory and uses pure magical energy to swat aside Legolas’s arrow and Gimli’s ax. When the radiance dies down, you see him fully, in new duds holding a beautiful white staff.
It’s his final form: the original convoluted staff became a shiny, pale piece of artistically intertwined branches. When put to its full use, Gandalf can personally ward off an entire flock of Nazgul.
Even when used without magic, it still can knock orcs over the head with ease. This staff does a whole lot, and looks good doing it! It’s equally as awesome in the old EA “Return of the King” game.
3. Loki’s “Sceptre”
C’mon, people. It’s Marvel.
The scepter was first seen in “The Avengers,” and came back in “Avengers: Age of Ultron” where it helped create Vision. It also helped give Scarlet Witch and Quicksilver their powers.
The staff shoots blue bolts of energy. It uses the power of the Mind Stone. It can control people with just a touch. The pointy end can skewer agents named Coulson. The blunt end can briefly bonk Captain America in the head before he shouts “not today” and spin-kicks you in your shiny, helmeted head.
Alright, that got silly but you got the point: it’s awesome!
Although you might not be able to wield Thor’s hammer, Loki’s scepter can be just the tool you need to plan your own alien invasion.
There may never be another game like Skyrim. Our fingers are crossed so hard for Elder Scrolls 6, we can’t even tell you.
In Skyrim, there were many staffs. Dragon priest staffs shot elemental energy, Magelight staffs performed great alteration spells. Conjuration staffs like the Sanguine Rose brought Dremoras from the planes of Oblivion. Yet, despite all of that…
No. Other. Staff. Can. Turn. Someone. Into. A. Sweet Roll.
Wabbajack is the Daedric artifact of Sheogorath, the Daedric prince of madness. When using it on an enemy or an NPC or chicken that looked at you funny, it will have a completely random effect on them.
Maybe it will turn them into a bunny who scampers off in fear. Maybe it will make them explode in a blur of lightning. The Wabbajack essentially throws its target into a lottery where anything can happen to it.
It will forever live on in our hearts as one of the most wildly, delightfully unpredictable weapons in video game history.
Though frankly, every line that comes out of Gandalf’s mouth sounds a little mystic and exciting, in no small part thanks to the acting prowess of Ian McKellan.
According to the novels, generally, Gandalf uses it to channel his own magic. In the movie, this can be seen when he illuminates the Mines of Moria and fights the Balrog. In the books, we particularly enjoyed when the fellowship was stuck in a tree and Gandalf pretty much burned the forest down to ensure their escape. That was intense!
Aside from Loki’s sceptre, this can be considered the most popular and widely known staff in pop culture. Gandalf the White’s never captured the universal charm and simplistic beauty of this one, with its white crystal held in the twisted branches.
Conclusion
Eat your heart out, swords.
These staffs go to show that your typical weapon might not be the most effective. Though you shouldn’t bring a knife to a gun fight, bringing a staff to a Nazgul fight might be in your best interest.
If we missed anything you wanted to see, let us know about it in the comment section below.
