The Lord of the Rings is filled with memorable heroes, but some notable figures from Tolkien’s books didn’t make the cut in Peter Jackson’s film adaptations. Two such Rohirrim warriors are Elfhelm and Erkenbrand, part of the wider Rohirrim story that got further exploration in an anime film.

Though absent from Peter Jackson’s movies, these characters played significant roles in Tolkien’s books, each with their own intriguing backstories and connections to key events. Elfhelm, the noble Marshal of Théoden’s court, and Erkenbrand, the powerful Lord of Deeping-coomb, contribute to the War of the Ring, but were ultimately omitted from the movies. Both characters are Rohirrim warriors whose heritage is center-stage in the new anime.

Who Are Elfhelm & Erkenbrand? The Lord Of The Rings’ Missing Rohirrim Warriors Explained

The Two Rohirrim Warriors Played Key Roles In The Background

Elfhelm, a noble Rohirrim, served as Marshal at Théoden’s court. Born in the late Third Age, he fought alongside Grimbold and Théodred at the Battles of the Fords of Isen during the War of the Ring, where Théodred was slain. Elfhelm also led a company of riders to Gondor and fought in the Battle of the Pelennor Fields. The Lord of the Rings’ Éowyn (disguised as Dernhelm) and Merry were part of his company during that battle. Elfhelm has several possible interpretations as a name, including owning an elf’s helmet, and being protected by the elves (per Master of Lore).

During the War of the Ring, Erkenbrand, a Rohirrim lord, ruled Deeping-coomb and a large portion of the Westfold. In his youth, he served as an officer in the King’s Riders. As the foremost lord in the West-mark, he held significant power. He was also the uncle of Dúnhere. Erkenbrand was described as a tall, strong man, bearing a red shield and a large black horn. King Théoden likened his valor to that of the legendary Helm Hammerhand. Erkenbrand is reportedly a name Tolkien had originally considered for Aragorn, according to CBR.

Why The Lord Of The Rings Movies Left Out These Characters From Tolkien’s Books

There Were Already Many Characters To Develop With Screen Time

Erkenbrand’s sudden appearance in The Two Towers book’s climax, leading an army, could have felt contrived on screen, especially as he’s not a prominent character beforehand. Meanwhile, The Elves’ expanded role, while debatable, addresses the practical question of who would defend Helm’s Deep in Éomer’s absence. Essentially, these changes streamline the narrative for a film audience, where there’s less time to develop background characters. There is more opportunity in books to do asides to document the background of more minor characters, adding to the world-building rather than distracting from the three-act structure of a movie.

Furthermore, introducing additional heroes can complicate a film’s narrative. More characters vying for screen time can diminish the impact of others, a problem that arguably already affects characters like Merry, Pippin, and Gimli. Even Théoden, at times, seems relegated to observing and commenting rather than actively participating. It’s possible that Jackson aimed to showcase Aragorn’s development into a leader, a progression that might have been overshadowed by Éomer’s presence and command. While the adaptation of The Lord of the Rings required cutting some characters, Jackson made other creative decisions like digging into Tolkien’s appendices to flesh out other characters.

Source: Master of Lore, CBR