# Hobbit: Radagast the Brown getting a bigger storyline **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [September 18, 2012, 11:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hobbit-radagast-the-brown-getting-a-bigger-storyline/635119 "2012-09-18T23:57:41Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![standingwave](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9de0a6/32.png) [@standingwave](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/standingwave)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2012, 11:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hobbit-radagast-the-brown-getting-a-bigger-storyline/635119/1 "2012-09-18T23:57:41Z")
This makes me a little nervous but I guess it’s the sort of padding required to turn the Hobbit into a film trilogy. Pictures at the io9 link below… > [@](#): > > ``` > The wizard Radagast the Brown (Sylvester McCoy) is only mentioned in J.R.R. Tolkien's Hobbit book once, but Boyens [The Hobbit (and The Lord of the Rings) co-screenwriter Philippa Boyens] had enough to go on to boost his role in the new movie series, and she feels he's going to become a well-loved character. "He's not at all like Gandalf," Boyens says. "There's a power and danger and sharpness and wits and cunning even about Gandalf that you sense immediately, whereas Radagast is much quieter and gentler. You could mistakenly think he's not even a wizard or that he might not have any powers of his own, and then you discover that he does." > > ``` > > [http://io9.com/5944368/new-hobbit-pics-give-a-first-look-at-radagast-the-brown-whos-getting-a-bigger-storyline](http://io9.com/5944368/new-hobbit-pics-give-a-first-look-at-radagast-the-brown-whos-getting-a-bigger-storyline) ---
**Author:** ![Antigen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/848f3c/32.png) [@Antigen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Antigen)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2012, 12:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hobbit-radagast-the-brown-getting-a-bigger-storyline/635119/2 "2012-09-19T00:01:36Z")
Well, that pretty much guarantees my husband won’t want to see it. He’s still so upset about how much LOTR was tweaked to make it into movies that he refuses to watch Two Towers or Return of the King. ---
**Author:** ![Blake](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/a9a28c/32.png) [@Blake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Blake)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2012, 12:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hobbit-radagast-the-brown-getting-a-bigger-storyline/635119/3 "2012-09-19T00:59:50Z")
This does not bode well. They are creating characters from whole cloth, and justifying it by claiming they “had enough to go on” in the original material? Enough to go on apparently being “You might know my cousin Radagast who live near here” and a single throwaway line about him being able to change shape or something. Not a good sign for the rest of the movie. Of course even if it is a good movie, it won’t be a movie of “The Hobbit”, it will be a movie featuring characters from the Hobbit, with huge amounts of additional material made up from whole cloth. That’s not necessarily a bad thing. The Hobbit was kinda lame even as a kid’s book, but it seems a little rude to claim that you are filming the author’s work when it’s seeming more and more like most of it will be new material. ---
**Author:** ![JackieLikesVariety](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackielikesvariety/32/296_2.png) [@JackieLikesVariety](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JackieLikesVariety)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2012, 1:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hobbit-radagast-the-brown-getting-a-bigger-storyline/635119/4 "2012-09-19T01:19:08Z")
could be good - could be fantastic, actually. I always wanted more of Radagast since Saruman was so snotty about him. ---
**Author:** ![Frylock](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ce7236/32.png) [@Frylock](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frylock)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2012, 1:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hobbit-radagast-the-brown-getting-a-bigger-storyline/635119/5 "2012-09-19T01:27:10Z")
The Hobbit is going to be even worse than the LOTR movies were. Mark my words. ---
**Author:** ![Ludovic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ab992/32.png) [@Ludovic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludovic)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2012, 1:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hobbit-radagast-the-brown-getting-a-bigger-storyline/635119/6 "2012-09-19T01:30:00Z")
In other words, the second best movie series ever? ---
**Author:** ![Carmady](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f04885/32.png) [@Carmady](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Carmady)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2012, 1:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hobbit-radagast-the-brown-getting-a-bigger-storyline/635119/7 "2012-09-19T01:31:48Z")
It’s a great idea, but I do wish that they had just made the Hobbit as a single movie and put the new material in the sequels. I have no doubt Radagast and Tom Bombadil could carry sequels with movie-original adventures, but The Hobbit itself seems singularly ill-suited to being broken in three. An epic like LOTR can stand being broken up because that just adds to how epic it seems. The Hobbit is a totally different animal. It’s not supposed to feel like a huge epic, it’s supposed to be a short, funny adventure with no real deeper themes. ---
**Author:** ![standingwave](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9de0a6/32.png) [@standingwave](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/standingwave)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2012, 2:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hobbit-radagast-the-brown-getting-a-bigger-storyline/635119/8 "2012-09-19T02:33:08Z")
> [@Carmady](#): > > I have no doubt Radagast and Tom Bombadil could carry sequels with movie-original adventures, but The Hobbit itself seems singularly ill-suited to being broken in three. Or the Blue Wizards, the remainder of the five Istari. Not much is known about them. I like to think that they were BFFs (maybe even BFFs with benefits if Jackson wants to get really daring) who walked the (Middle) Earth, going from place to place, meeting people and getting into adventures. It could even be a TV series with a new adventure each week! 😃 ---
**Author:** ![GuanoLad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guanolad/32/42_2.png) [@GuanoLad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GuanoLad)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2012, 3:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hobbit-radagast-the-brown-getting-a-bigger-storyline/635119/9 "2012-09-19T03:00:27Z")
> [@Frylock](#): > > The Hobbit is going to be even worse than the LOTR movies were. Mark my words. I will mark your words! With a big red **X**. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2012, 4:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hobbit-radagast-the-brown-getting-a-bigger-storyline/635119/10 "2012-09-19T04:21:28Z")
I don’t get it. Splitting a long book into multiple movies makes sense. Padding a short book with extra material to fill a movie makes sense. But splitting _and_ padding? Was the book too long, or not? ---
**Author:** ![Tamerlane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tamerlane/32/7602_2.png) [@Tamerlane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tamerlane)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2012, 5:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hobbit-radagast-the-brown-getting-a-bigger-storyline/635119/11 "2012-09-19T05:29:44Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > But splitting _and_ padding? Was the book too long, or not? Not. But splitting generates vastly more profits and splitting unnecessarily requires padding. It’s all perfectly logical ;). ---
**Author:** ![Jragon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e19b73/32.png) [@Jragon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jragon)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2012, 5:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hobbit-radagast-the-brown-getting-a-bigger-storyline/635119/12 "2012-09-19T05:42:55Z")
Yeah, if they wanted to be canon they’d just set up a few 10 minute shots panning over, zooming in on, and otherwise examining all the food they’re about to eat while the Narrator does a voice over explaining it in great detail. ---
**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2012, 7:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hobbit-radagast-the-brown-getting-a-bigger-storyline/635119/13 "2012-09-19T07:03:02Z")
Oh, for Eru’s sake. ---
**Author:** ![Malacandra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Malacandra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malacandra)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2012, 7:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hobbit-radagast-the-brown-getting-a-bigger-storyline/635119/14 "2012-09-19T07:06:13Z")
I’m sure there will be trolls in the movies, too. ---
**Author:** ![Novelty\_Bobble](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/a3d4f5/32.png) [@Novelty\_Bobble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Novelty_Bobble)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2012, 11:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hobbit-radagast-the-brown-getting-a-bigger-storyline/635119/15 "2012-09-19T11:44:56Z")
The thing with middle-earth is that it is crammed with back story that is never fleshed out. You could theoretically make a relevant full film just out of Moria, Mirkwood, ents, trolls or any number of other characters or situations. Tolkien intended for this to be a world to explore so I can’t blame a fan like Peter Jackson when he does so. Is this tale likely to stick perfectly to the book? no. Is the reason for splitting the film partly due to money? yes. But if that money means that Peter Jackson takes the care and love he did with TLOTR then I’m not going to complain. I’m perfectly happy to go on the journey with him, especially when we know that Smaug lies, smouldering at the end of it. Voiced by Benedict Cumberbatch people! remember that. That is going to be worth the price of admission alone. ---
**Author:** ![Bridget\_Burke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7cd45c/32.png) [@Bridget\_Burke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bridget_Burke)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2012, 12:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hobbit-radagast-the-brown-getting-a-bigger-storyline/635119/16 "2012-09-19T12:10:44Z")
Peter Jackson is not just in it for the money. He’s in it for the money he can earn working in Middle Earth. After you’ve worked there, any other job just doesn’t measure up. I’ll gladly tag along once again. ---
**Author:** ![bienville](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/4bbf92/32.png) [@bienville](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bienville)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2012, 12:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hobbit-radagast-the-brown-getting-a-bigger-storyline/635119/17 "2012-09-19T12:19:21Z")
> [@standingwave](#): > > I like to think that they were BFFs (maybe even BFFs with benefits if Jackson wants to get really daring) who walked the (Middle) Earth, going from place to place, meeting people and getting into adventures. They got a name for that, Jules: it’s called “a bum”. And without a job, a residence or legal tender, that’s exactly what you’re going to be: a fucking bum. /vincent vega ---
**Author:** ![Acid\_Lamp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/d6d6ee/32.png) [@Acid\_Lamp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acid_Lamp)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2012, 12:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hobbit-radagast-the-brown-getting-a-bigger-storyline/635119/18 "2012-09-19T12:43:07Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > I don’t get it. Splitting a long book into multiple movies makes sense. Padding a short book with extra material to fill a movie makes sense. But splitting _and_ padding? Was the book too long, or not? I think it has do with IP rights of all things.:rolleyes: Christopher “Partypooper Sefishpants” Tolkien _hated_ the Jackson movies, and would likely not sign off on any further work by him after “The Hobbit” is filmed. Therefore if Jackson wants to complete his vision of middle earth, he’d better cram it all in NOW. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_Bravo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_bravo/32/493_2.png) [@Johnny\_Bravo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_Bravo)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2012, 12:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hobbit-radagast-the-brown-getting-a-bigger-storyline/635119/19 "2012-09-19T12:47:04Z")
> [@Jragon](#): > > Yeah, if they wanted to be canon they’d just set up a few 10 minute shots panning over, zooming in on, and otherwise examining all the food they’re about to eat while the Narrator does a voice over explaining it in great detail. …I’d watch that. ---
**Author:** ![BMalion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e274bd/32.png) [@BMalion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BMalion)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2012, 2:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hobbit-radagast-the-brown-getting-a-bigger-storyline/635119/20 "2012-09-19T14:07:38Z")
The thing to remember about the brown wizard, is that he was _just_ clever enough. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hobbit-radagast-the-brown-getting-a-bigger-storyline/635119.md?page=2)