"The Hobbit," written by J.R.R. Tolkien, was published as a single novel in 1937 and has since become a classic in children's literature and high fantasy. The story follows the journey of Bilbo Baggins, a hobbit who is thrust into an adventure with a group of dwarves seeking to reclaim their homeland from the dragon Smaug. The book was adapted into a trilogy of films directed by Peter Jackson, released between 2012 and 2014. The movies expanded considerably on the original novel, introducing new characters, plots, and details not present in the book. Here are some of the major differences between "The Hobbit" book and its movie adaptation: 1. **Expansion of the Storyline**: One of the most apparent differences is that the relatively short children's book was expanded into a trilogy of epic-length films. To fill the runtime, additional material was included—some of it inspired by the appendices of "The Lord of the Rings," some invented for the films. 2. **New Characters**: Several new characters were introduced in the movies that do not appear in the book. For example, Tauriel, a Wood-elf guard, is a significant character in the films but is not found in the book. Additionally, the film includes Legolas, who is not mentioned in "The Hobbit," but is a principal character in "The Lord of the Rings." 3. **Increased Role for Gandalf**: In the book, Gandalf disappears on his own missions, which are not elaborated on. The films use material from Tolkien's appendices to show what Gandalf is doing when he is away from the dwarves—namely, investigating the rise of the Necromancer (Sauron) at Dol Guldur. 4. **Azog the Defiler**: In the book, Azog is long dead before the events of "The Hobbit," but the films bring him back as a persistent antagonist who has a personal vendetta against Thorin Oakenshield. 5. **Expanded Role of Radagast**: Radagast the Brown is mentioned in passing in "The Hobbit" but is given screen time as a character in the films, particularly in relation to Gandalf's discovery of the Necromancer's identity. 6. **Romantic Subplot**: The films include a romantic subplot between Tauriel and Kili the dwarf, which is a storyline entirely absent from the book. 7. **The Battle of the Five Armies**: While the book covers this event, the movie expands the battle sequence significantly, adding new elements and extending the duration of the conflict. 8. **Portrayal of Elrond, Galadriel, and Saruman**: These characters, who play significant roles in "The Lord of the Rings," also appear in "The Hobbit" films, even though they are only mentioned or appear very briefly in the book. 9. **Added Backstory**: The movies incorporate additional backstory, especially for Thorin Oakenshield and his family's history with Erebor and the dragon Smaug. 10. **Tone**: "The Hobbit" book has a lighter, more whimsical tone with a focus on Bilbo's personal growth and adventure. The movie adaptation, on the other hand, has a more epic and dark tone in line with "The Lord of the Rings" trilogy. These major differences illustrate how the "The Hobbit" films transformed a straightforward narrative into a complex, multi-threaded epic, intertwining additional lore from the rich universe created by J.R.R. Tolkien. While film adaptations must make changes due to the differences between literary and cinematic storytelling, such as time constraints, visual storytelling needs, and audience expectations, the "The Hobbit" trilogy extended well beyond the original book's scope and content.