The Lord of the Rings franchise is back and looking to take over Hollywood once more over the next several years. Beginning with a new Andy Serkis-directed film, The Hunt for Gollum, in 2026, Warner Bros. is looking to produce multiple new spinoff movies set within J.R.R. Tolkien's iconic fantasy world. Given the sheer size and diversity of Middle-earth, there's tons of potential for future adaptations.
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Among the best avenues that The Lord of the Rings franchise can take in its upcoming movies is the exploration of never-before-seen characters. Several characters from Tolkien's books, including some from his anthologies and his unfinished stories, have never been adapted to film. Many of their character arcs couldn't be included in Jackson's trilogy because they would have weakened the overarching storyline.
Updated on October 26, 2024, by Ajay Aravind: Middle-earth became the basis for fantasy worldbuilding as soon as The Lord of the Rings novels were released in 1954-1955. The characters that inhabit this fictional universe are just as diverse, with dozens of them playing notable parts in the overarching narrative. In light of the franchise renewal, we have included five more book characters who never appeared in the movies.
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15 Bill Ferny Was One Of The Story's Least Trustworthy Characters
Ferny Once Owned Sam's Beloved Pony Bill
Merry, Pippin, Frodo and Sam spend some time in Bree on their way to Rivendell, which is when they come across Bill Ferny. Described as a "sneery, swarthy fellow," Ferny was infamous for his untrustworthy nature in his own town, and for good reason since he became an undercover agent for the Ringwraiths and helped them find the Shire as well as Hobbiton.
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Ferny only realized that the Hobbits were special after he watched Frodo vanish at The Prancing Pony, explaining why the Nazgûl found them soon after. Ferny also freed the Hobbits' ponies and sold them his own abused pony for an extremely high cost. He also helped Saruman when the latter took over the Shire, a notable scene cut from the third movie. Ferny might have been a terrible person overall, but at least he ensured that Sam made a new friend in Bill the Pony.
14 Fredegar "Fatty" Bolger Was An Important Help In The Shire
Fatty Isn't Mentioned By Name In The Movies
Most fans are familiar with the four major Hobbits in The Lord of the Rings trilogy: Frodo Baggins, Samwise Gamgee, Meriadoc Brandybuck, and Peregrine Took. However, those who have exclusively watched the movies wouldn't be aware that there was a fifth Hobbit who played a significant albeit smaller role in the salvation of Middle-earth.
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In Tolkien's The Fellowship of the Ring, Fredegar "Fatty" Bolger is a Hobbit living in the Shire to whom Frodo reveals that he has come into possession of the One Ring. Fatty nearly accompanies the four main Hobbits into the Old Forest but turns back out of fear. Nevertheless, he remains in the Shire to control the gossip surrounding Frodo's departure. Eventually, he helps lead a rebellion against Saruman's forces during the Scouring of the Shire at the end of the story.
13 Farmer Maggot And His Family's Role Is Significantly Reduced
Maggot Has Always Been Very Good Friends With Frodo
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Farmer Maggot—first name Goodman—is a character briefly seen in The Fellowship of the Ring, where he inadvertently helps the Nazgûl locate Hobbiton. That said, his role was reduced far below what it was in the books. Farmer Maggot's farm lies at the edge of the Shire and often falls victim to the antics of Merry and Pippin, who enjoy stealing his crops for snacks.
In the book, Maggot and his family host Frodo and his companions as they are about to enter the Old Forest. Maggot's family members are entirely cut from the movie. But they, specifically Mrs. Maggot, have a pleasant conversation with the Hobbit adventurers in the book before sending them on their way. All things considered, it's understandable why Peter Jackson excluded the Maggot household.
12 The Orc Chieftain Is Swapped With A Cave Troll In Moria
Moria, Once Known As Khazad-Dûm, Appears In The Rings Of Power
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When the Fellowship delves into the Mines of Moria, they are confronted with numerous enemies who nearly make their escape impossible. In the original book, the group is forced to face a tremendous Orc chieftain when they reach the Twenty-first Hall of North end. He is eventually defeated as the Fellowship flees, only to encounter the Balrog.
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In Peter Jackson's Fellowship of the Ring, the Orc chieftain is replaced with a humongous cave troll, who forces its way into the chamber and attacks the group as they take refuge therein. This made for a more cinematic villain for the Fellowship to face than another Orc. Trolls hate sunlight because it turns them into stone, so it makes perfect sense that one would be lurking in the dark depths of Moria.
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11 Morgoth Is An Integral Part Of Middle-Earth Lore
Morgoth's Lieutenant Sauron Filled His Former Master's Place
Morgoth is a member of the Valar, a race of godlike creatures who rule high above the continent of Middle-earth as well as the entire world of Arda. Wanting to rule Arda for himself, Morgoth rebelled against the Valar and his creator, Eru Ilúvatar, to become the first Dark Lord. In the First Age and the ages before, Morgoth led his followers in bold attempts to turn Arda into a chaotic, formless void. However, he was defeated in the War of Wrath and banished from Middle-earth.
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Since the history of Morgoth and his rebellion comes long before the events of The Lord of the Rings, the Dark Lord is not present in the films. Nevertheless, his presence is still greatly felt in the Third Age, as his general, Sauron, continues to wreak havoc in Middle-earth. More importantly, a prophecy that foretells Morgoth's return during the End of Days.
10 Elrohir And Elladan Are The Sons Of Elrond
They Are Also The Grandsons Of Lady Galadriel
Elrohir and Elladan are the twin sons of the Elven leader Elrond, who holds a council in Rivendell to form the Fellowship of the Ring. The two half-Elves were noble warriors and good friends of Aragorn, the future king who went on to marry their younger sister Arwen. During the War of the Ring, Elrohir and Elladan valiantly fought alongside Aragorn at the Battles of Pelennor Fields and the Black Gate.
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Although Arwen is present and prominent in Peter Jackson's Lord of the Rings trilogy, her brothers are absent from the films. However, Elrhoir and Elladan appear in The Lord of the Rings: The War in the North, a video game depicting the War for the Ring. The game is not officially considered canon and therefore neither are Elrohir and Elladan.
9 The Barrow-Wight Encounter Is Left Out Of The Films
Tolkien's Nazgûl Were Originally A Type Of Barrow-Wight
Barrow-wights are dark and vengeful spirits that typically live in mysterious places devoid of light. They are also known as Draugr, or undead creatures in Norse mythology that appear in the videogame Skyrim. In the books, Frodo Baggins and his companions are captured by a Barrow-wight while passing through the Barrow-downs on their way to Rivendell.
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It is only through the help of the mysterious traveler Tom Bombadil that Frodo and his friends are freed. Because Bombadil was cut from The Fellowship of the Ring, it stands to reason that the Barrow-wight also had to be removed from the final product. Although none of the evil creatures appear in the Lord of the Rings movies, they are frequently depicted as enemies in the franchise's video game offerings.
8 Goldberry Is The Enchanting Wife Of Tom Bombadil
She Is Said To Be The Daughter Of The River-Woman
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Goldberry is a mysterious and enchanting woman whom Frodo Baggins and his Hobbit companions encounter as they journey through the Old Forest outside Buckland. She is one of the forest folk and the enigmatic wife of the equally enigmatic Tom Bombadil, who invites the Hobbits into their home as a reprieve from their restless wanderings.
The entire Bombadil sequence is missing from The Fellowship of the Ring, leaving Goldberry out of the movie entirely. Nevertheless, Khraniteli, a recently resurfaced Russian television play adaptation of the story includes the sequence, with actress Regina Lialeikite playing the role of Goldberry. Goldberry's musical voice is also heard outside Bombadil's shack in Amazon's The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power, but she has yet to physically appear in the series.
7 Glorfindel Appears In The Movies But Never Speaks
His Main Job Was Taken Over By Arwen
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Glorfindel is a noble Elf known for his tremendous fighting ability. Interestingly, author J.R.R. Tolkien accidentally included two Elves named Glorfindel in his writings—one appearing in the First Age and another in the Third. Tolkien's error created a more powerful Elf when the author merged the two characters, explaining that the original Glorfindel was resurrected by the Valar after his death. It's he who first guides the Hobbits to Rivendell in the original book.
While Glorfindel technically appears in the background of several scenes of Return of the King, his role in the story is mostly taken over by Arwen. Jarl Benzon portrays the Elf, though he is only identified as such in the credits and not in the actual movie itself. As a result, the films miss out on the rich history that Glorfindel brings to Middle-earth mythology.
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6 The Sackville-Bagginses Could Have Also Appeared In The Hobbit
The Family Had A Longstanding Conflict With Both Bilbo And Frodo
The Sackville-Baggins family included Otho, Lobelia, and their son Lotho. All three were famously covetous of the Baggins name and property, not to mention the luxurious Hobbit hole of Bag End. They were upset because Bilbo returned alive from his journey, and utterly distraught when Bilbo left Bag End to Frodo. They could have appeared in the polarizing The Hobbit trilogy after being skipped in the Lord of the Rings, but it was not to be.
Otho's death left Lobelia and Lotho the only two Sackville-Baggineses, and both of them delightfully acquired Bag End when Frodo left to join the Fellowship. During the Scouring of the Shire, Lobelia was imprisoned for her courage against Saruman's men but was shocked to learn that Lotho had already been killed by then. Before leaving Hobbiton forever, Lobelia graciously offers Bag End to Frodo, and money to help all the homeless Hobbits.
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5 Ghân-buri-Ghân Helped Secure Victory At The Pelennor Fields
He Was The Leader Of The Drúedain, A Forest-Dwelling Race Of Men
The race of Men was also known as the Edain, while the Númenoreans who followed Elendil into Middle-earth were the Dúnedain. There were several other races of Men, but one of the least known ones was the Drúedain of the Drúadan Forest. Referred to as the Wild Men of the Woods, the Drúedain were quite compassionate, even though they were discriminated against for their "unlovely" physical appearance.
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The chief of the Drúedain, Ghân-buri-Ghân, ferried the Rohirrim to the Battle of the Pelennor Fields, without which the War of the Ring would have been lost. After his coronation, King Elessar ordained that the region of the Drúadan Forest would henceforth belong exclusively to the Drúedain. Ghân-buri-Ghân appears in The Lord of the Rings Online, but his inclusion in the movie trilogy would have deepened the mystical lore of Middle-earth.
4 The Blue Wizards Never Physically Appear In The Books
The Could Have Disappeared Into The Far North Of Middle-Earth
The Blue Wizards of Lord of the Rings were sent to Middle-earth with Gandalf, Saruman, and Radagast to stop the rise of dark forces that wanted to bring about chaos and destruction. With several disputed names credited to them, the Blue Wizards were sent to the southeast to fight Sauron's forces, though it is unclear whether they succeeded or were corrupted in the process.
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The Blue Wizards have always been a mysterious footnote in Tolkien lore. Since they never appear in the events of The Lord of the Rings, the rights to the characters do not fall under Warner Bros.'s jurisdiction, making it necessary that they not appear in the films. Nevertheless, Gandalf does recognize their existence in The Hobbit, which also introduces another Wizard: Radagast the Brown.
3 Prince Imrahil Was An Important Player In The War Of The Ring
Imhrahil Was The 22nd Hereditary Prince Of Dol Amroth
Peter Jackson's Lord of the Rings trilogy runs for over nine hours, but the director still had to chop many book characters from his adaptations. Prince Imrahil's removal makes sense, as it could have confused audiences who believed that Gondor was the only kingdom in the entire East of Middle-earth. That said, the role he played was quite impressive.
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Imhrahil was the ruler of a neighboring princedom called Dol Amroth, whose sister Finduilas had married Denethor of Gondor. As such, Imrahil is the maternal uncle to both Boromir and Faramir. In the books, he rescued Faramir after his poisonous injury and brought him back. Imrahil also acknowledged Aragorn as the true King of Gondor, while Aragorn requested him to become the temporary Steward between Denethor's death and Faramir's awakening.
2 Old Man Willow Is Indirectly Represented In The Movies And The Amazon Series
Old Man Willow Despises All Creatures That Harm Trees And Forests
In Season 2, Episode 4 of The Rings of Power, Gandalf is seemingly swallowed up by a tree before Tom Bombadil rescues him. When Merry and Pippin reach Fangorn forest in the extended edition of the trilogy, they are nearly engulfed by a Huorn, a semi-sentient type of Ent. Something like this happens in the LotR books, except Merry and Pippin are swallowed by a tree, only to be saved after Tom Bombadil sings the right tune.
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This character is known as Old Man Willow, a strangely sentient being who behaves like an Ent and a tree. Nothing is known about Old Man Willow, except that he hates all creatures that walk. Including him in the movies, especially without Bombadil as an anchor, would have been meaningless. That said, Old Man Willow also appears in the earlier unpublished writings of JRR Tolkien.
1 Tom Bombadil Is Peter Jackson's Most Notorious Exemption
Bombadil Existed Long Before There Was Life On Middle-Earth
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Tom Bombadil is one of the most mysterious characters in Tolkien lore. He encounters Frodo Baggins and his companions at the beginning of their journey in the Old Forest. He takes the group into his home for some time, enchanted by his family and household. Many fans were surprised that the Bombadil encounter is completely cut from Peter Jackson's adaptation, with the character not so much as named in the films.
Nevertheless, fan lore suggests that Tom Bombadil was cast for The Fellowship of the Ring and that his scenes were even shot before eventually being cut from the final film. Even so, these rumors are unproven and will forever remain legendary. Bombadil's inclusion in The Rings of Power will allow this cryptic character to be explored further. However, there's also a fan theory that suggests Bombadil has always been in the movies.
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The Lord of the Rings
The Lord of the Rings is a series of epic fantasy adventure films and television series based on J. R. R. Tolkien's novels. The films follow the adventures of humans, elves, dwarves, hobbits and more in Middle-earth.
- Created by
- J.R.R. Tolkien
- First Film
- The Lord of the Rings: Fellowship of the Ring
- Latest Film
- The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies
- Upcoming Films
- The Lord of The Rings: The War of The Rohirrim
- First TV Show
- The Lord of the Rings The Rings of Power
- Latest TV Show
- The Lord of the Rings The Rings of Power
- First Episode Air Date
- September 1, 2022
- Cast
- Elijah Wood , Viggo Mortensen , Orlando Bloom , Sean Astin , Billy Boyd , Dominic Monaghan , Sean Bean , Ian McKellen , Andy Serkis , Hugo Weaving , Liv Tyler , Miranda Otto , Cate Blanchett , John Rhys-Davies , Martin Freeman , Morfydd Clark , Ismael Cruz Cordova , Charlie Vickers , Richard Armitage
- Genre
- Fantasy , Action-Adventure
- Where to Stream
- Max , Prime Video , Hulu