The Next Lord of the Rings Movie Can Include the Biggest Character Peter Jackson’s Trilogy Cut

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Warner Bros. is returning to Middle-earth with new Lord of the Rings films, and this offers an opportunity to approach the story in a fresh way. Peter Jackson’s films, while beloved, naturally had to adapt and shorten the books; even the Extended Editions couldn’t include everything from J.R.R. Tolkien’s massive books within the three films. This meant difficult decisions had to be made, with some storylines being simplified and certain characters left out completely.

Regarding discussions among fans, few figures have been talked about as much as Tom Bombadil over the last two decades, even though his part in the story itself is relatively small. This Fellowship of the Ring character is a puzzling inhabitant of the forest who helps Frodo Baggins and the other Hobbits early in their adventure, providing them with shelter after they encounter trouble near his house. From the start, he quickly becomes the most mysterious figure in Tolkien’s world. He’s extremely old, a bit strange, and, most notably, unaffected by the power of the One Ring.

However, when the The Fellowship of the Ring film adaptation arrived, Tom Bombadil was noticeably absent. The Hobbits skipped their journey through the Old Forest, and the cheerful character-known for his bright blue jacket and yellow boots-didn’t appear in the movie. This decision makes sense, as including him might have slowed down the story, given that he doesn’t play a direct role in the main plot. Nevertheless, Bombadil remains a captivating character, thanks to his songs, abilities, and the enduring mystery surrounding him. With the upcoming film, The Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum, could we finally see him on screen?

How Tom Bombadil Can Appear in The Hunt for Gollum

Adding Tom Bombadil to the story of The Hunt for Gollum would allow for a change of pace: a tale that’s less about grand adventures and more about the characters themselves. The story, which is only hinted at in The Lord of the Rings, details Gandalf and Aragorn’s attempt to find Gollum before he tells Sauron’s armies where the One Ring is hidden. This story allows for more side paths and unusual meetings, and a movie-length adaptation needs those additions – bringing back elements that were previously cut, such as Tom, would be a good way to achieve that.

Bombadil doesn’t appear in the story of The Hunt for Gollum, but adding him wouldn’t be difficult. If Gandalf and Aragorn are searching all over Middle-earth for the creature, it’s easy to picture their journey taking them close to Tom’s Old Forest. Gandalf, specifically, would have a good reason to stop there. Tolkien wrote that Bombadil and Gandalf have mutual respect and have met before, despite their different approaches. Having the grey wizard ask Bombadil for information about the land-and any rumors or clues he might have about Gollum-would naturally fit him into the story without disrupting the plot.

Of course, the movie wouldn’t be a direct copy of the original book. While Frodo appears in The Hunt for Gollum, it’s hard to picture the film showing the Hobbits encountering Tom. However, the movie could still show how enigmatic, ancient, and strong he is, and ideally demonstrate how unaffected he is by the One Ring, even if it isn’t near him.

This doesn’t require a lot of explanation; it wouldn’t be a major detour, but rather a natural part of the story. Tom Bombadil is important because he highlights the incredible scope and diversity of Middle-earth, and showcases some of Tolkien’s more unusual characters. While he recently appeared in Prime Video’s The Rings of Power, that series has many problems, meaning he still hasn’t been portrayed effectively. And since he was cut from Fellowship, he truly deserves his time to shine on the big screen. More than 20 years after being left out, Tom’s moment should finally come.

The Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum is planned to be released on December 17, 2027. You can currently watch The Lord of the Rings trilogy on HBO Max.

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2025-10-04 20:43