As these types of images are released, the staff at TheOneRing.net, and a few of our message board regulars, will be contributing to a new feature in which we hope to live up to the adage “A picture is worth a thousand words.” We will delve deep into images as they are released and try to provide you with background, history and speculation as we wait for The Hobbit movies. To follow along, just reference the numbers in the image and the cooresponding numbers below. Click ‘continue reading.’ Enjoy!
1. Martin Freeman as Bilbo Baggins
Costume: Keeping in line with the costuming from The Lord of the Rings trilogy, we notice the familiar suspenders over a short collared shirt which we often saw Frodo wearing. A few board members have mentioned the would expect to see Bilbo in a waist coast, but based on the ‘surprise’ nature of the Dwarves visit, Bilbo does look rather like he was not expecting visitors.
Make-up/Prosthetics: Thanks to board member Kangi Ska and Pipe Dream for an image comparison, we are able to see a difference between Martin Freeman’s Bilbo Baggins ears than those of Ian Holm’s Bilbo Baggins ears.
I guess we can now say that Hobbit ears age by shrinking over time!
2. Bilbo’s Document
There are a few possibilities for the document that Bilbo is holding. One feasible option suggests this is a list of breakfast requests made by Thorin and Co.. Another, and ultimately the general feeling among the staff here at TOrn, is that Bilbo is holding are the ‘Terms’ of his contract with Thorin. In the book, the terms are rather short:
“Thorin and Company to Burglar Bilbo greeting!
For your hospitality our sincerest thanks, and for your offer of professional assistance our gratefulacceptance. Terms: cash on delivery, up to and not exceeding one fourteenth of total profits (if any); alltraveling expenses guaranteed in any event; funeral expenses to be defrayed by us or our representatives, ifoccasion arises and the matter is not otherwise arranged for.
“Thinking it unnecessary to disturb your esteemed repose, we have proceeded in advance to make requisite preparations, and shall await your respected person at the Green Dragon Inn, Bywater, at II a.m. sharp. Trusting that you will be punctual.
“We have the honour to remain
“Yours deeply
“Thorin& Co.”If we can assume the document is indeed the ‘Terms’ from Thorin, then we can assume some changes from the book. The first would be timing. In the book Bilbo discovers the ‘Terms’ on his mantle after Thorin and Co. have already left Bag End. Here we see Thorin watching Bilbo read the ‘Terms’ in person. One can imagine Bilbo being handed the ‘Terms’ from Thorin and as he starts to read them, pages upon pages drop to the floor. A bit of comedy which can be excepted from PJ and crew.
3. Unknown Dwarf
Your guess is as good as ours, but this dwarf could be Bofur, played by James Nesbitt.
4. Ken Stott as Balin
It is generally agreed amongst the staff that this is Balin, played by actor Ken Stott. Balin is described as ‘a very old-looking dwarf’
5. Thorin
Front and center in the image, we fully expect this is Richard Armitage as Thorin Oakenshield. (Thanks to Pipe Dream for the zoom)
6. Unknown Dwarf
With make-up and prosthetics, this could be any of the dwarves.
7. Unknown Dwarf
With make-up and prosthetics, this could be any of the dwarves.
8. Thror’s Map
We can pretty well assume the map on the table is Thror’s Map – the map which figures so prominently in the plot of The Hobbit and was briefly featured in The Fellowshp of the Ring.
