“The wizard Saruman was more than a role; it was a calling,” said Christopher Lee once. Now, nearly a decade after he passed away, his voice answers that call once again. Where? In The War of the Rohirrim. But how? The short answer is: Using archive clips from Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit.
The new LotR film, The War of the Rohirrim, is an animation set 183 years before The Fellowship of the Ring. It tells the story of Helm Hammerhand, the king of Rohan, and reveals how Helm's Deep first came to be. In this new Middle-earth story, Christopher Lee's voice seamlessly weaves through the anime narrative.
As the golden halls of Rohan echo with battle cries and Éowyn’s narration, Lee’s Saruman casts a brief yet unforgettable shadow, sparking admiration, nostalgia, and an ongoing debate on the ethics of such uses of voice and image of deceased people.
The wizard’s voice: a legacy resurrected
The filmmakers behind The War of the Rohirrim opted for what is being deemed a respectful approach: they combed through hours of Christopher Lee’s original performances, selecting lines from his work in The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit.
These recordings were carefully edited to fit the film’s context, preserving Lee’s iconic delivery without relying on artificial reconstruction—but they were edited.
Is it a choice that speaks volumes about the care taken to honor Lee’s legacy? After all, this isn’t just any wizard—they’re dealing with the voice of the only cast member who had met J.R.R. Tolkien in person.
Lee's portrayal of Saruman showed his deep passion for the original story, and this final appearance feels more like a heartfelt tribute than a cheap trick.
Saruman in The War of the Rohirrim: a voice that lingers
Saruman's part in the movie is short but powerful. Against the backdrop of Helm Hammerhand's fierce battle to defend Rohan, the wizard's voice hints at deeper manipulation. It shows how betrayal begins quietly, long before it becomes obvious.
Told through Éowyn's eyes, the film connects Rohan's past glory with the future events of Lord of the Rings. Her storytelling makes Saruman's appearance feel both like a memory and a warning of darker times ahead.
Fan reactions: a rare spell of approval
Unlike other franchises that have stumbled when reviving deceased actors, The War of the Rohirrim has managed to cast a rare spell of approval among fans. Perhaps it’s because the filmmakers avoided the uncanny valley of CGI recreations, opting instead for the authenticity of Lee’s original recordings.
Many movie fans are wary of digital actor revivals, thanks to Hollywood's past mistakes. Peter Cushing's computer-generated comeback in Rogue One divided audiences. Tech fans marveled at the digital magic, but most found that creepy and felt the ghostly recreation broke the movie's storytelling spell, feeling more like a technical stunt than a meaningful performance.
The backlash highlighted how easily such efforts can undermine the emotional connection audiences have to beloved characters.
Another miss step occurred with The Flash in 2023, which faced backlash for its use of CGI to depict late actors, including Christopher Reeve as Superman. Fans were quick to call out the scene as exploitative, arguing that it cheapened the legacy of actors who had long passed.
The moment felt less like a tribute and more like a spectacle, leaving audiences questioning the industry’s moral compass when it comes to reviving the dead for entertainment.
Ian Holm's digital resurrection in Alien: Romulus triggered deep ethical debates about posthumous actor portrayals. Past digital revivals reveal a thin line between respectful memorial and crass commercial exploitation.
The War of the Rohirrim navigates this complex terrain by strategically using Christopher Lee's original archival recordings, demonstrating a nuanced approach that celebrates the actor's profound legacy while preserving the artistic integrity of his performance.
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Fans have largely praised the move, celebrating the chance to hear Lee’s commanding voice one last time in a role he clearly cherished. However, the return isn’t without its detractors, who question whether this sets a precedent for the posthumous use of actors in future films.
While Christopher Lee’s return feels respectful, it’s a fine line to walk. Could this decision encourage future filmmakers to resurrect other actors without the same level of care? The answer is yet to come.
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