‘The Hobbit’: 6 Biggest Changes From J.R.R. Tolkien’s Novel

Radagast Bunny Hops on Screen Strangely enough, the most kid-friendly scene from The Hobbit didn’t actually appear in the book. Though Radagast (Sylvester McCoy) was mentioned in Tolkien’s novel, the nature-loving wizard — and his ridiculous ridiculously cute bunny sled — didn’t make an appearance. Radagast does, however, play a role in Tolkien’s notes — sources being used for the third Hobbitfilm. Azog Comes Out of the Fog What’s a Lord of the Rings movie without an Orc? While The Hobbit primarily focuses on goblins and trolls — nary even mentioning an Orc — Jackson’s film adaptation centers on Thorin’s battle with Azog (Manu Bennett). In Tolkien mythology, Azog did indeed kill King Thrór, Thorin’s grandfather, but Bilbo (Martin Freeman) and his dwarf companions merely stumble upon danger in The Hobbit— they largely move untracked. Of course, the best way to amp up Bilbo’s unexpected journey was to add a few more unexpected villains. Seeing Saruman Radagast wasn’t the only wizard who magically appeared out of nowhere. Saruman (Christopher Lee) also had no role in Tolkien’s The Hobbit, but made an appearance in the film as part of a mini White Council. Credit nostalgia — who didn’t smile their pearly whites seeing the soon-to-be-evil white wizard? GALLERY: 10 Celebrities With Gollum Eyes Glad to See Galadriel? Similarly, Galadriel (Cate Blanchett) was never mentioned in The Hobbitnovel, despite her large role in Jackson’s adaptation. But, let’s face it, much like Galadriel’s advice, you weren’t able to get her out of your head anyway. Frodo’s in the Frame! Proof that great things come in the shortest of scenes: The Hobbit‘s biggest geek-out moment happened at the beginning of the film, when Frodo (Elijah Wood) recreated a Fellowship of the Ring conversation with an elderly Bilbo (Ian Holm) awaiting his birthday party. Precious, indeed — but not in the book. Prancing Ponies Prance Away I couldn’t have been the only child horrified at the prospect of goblins under the Misty Mountains eating the dwarves’ poor ponies. So it’s no surprise Jackson dismissed them from the script with one dwarf’s claim that the small horses had simply run away in fear. Now, if only The Hobbit had managed to avoid real-life heartbreaking pony stories…

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