The Hobbit (film series) was written by Fran Walsh, Philippa Boyens, Jackson, and Guillermo del Toro, who was originally chosen to direct before his departure from the project. The films take place in the fictional world of Middle-earth sixty years before the beginning of "The Lord of the Rings", and follow hobbit Bilbo Baggins (Martin Freeman), who is convinced by the wizard Gandalf the Grey (Ian McKellen) to accompany thirteen dwarves, led by Thorin Oakenshield (Richard Armitage), on a quest to reclaim the Lonely Mountain from the dragon Smaug (voiced by Benedict Cumberbatch). The films also expand upon certain elements from the novel and
Adaptations of The Lord of the Rings BBC broadcast "The Lord of the Rings," a new, ambitious dramatisation in 26 half-hour instalments. It starred Ian Holm as Frodo Baggins, the protagonist; he would play Bilbo Baggins, his character's cousin/uncle, in the live-action trilogy. In 1992 the German radio stations SDR and WDR broadcast Der Herr der Ringe, a 30-episode adaptation of "The Lord of the Rings". In 1999-2000 the Danish radio station Danmarks Radio broadcast "Eventyret om Ringen", a Danish language retelling of The Lord of the Rings by Rune T. Kidde. Music by The Tolkien Ensemble, Hedningarna, Sorten Muld and Kim Skovbye. In 2001, 2002 and