The New Zealand screenwriter and film producer Philippa Boyens, a co-writer of the screenplay for "The Hobbit" film series, noted that Tolkien only revealed further detailed information about the character, including his name and backstory, in its sequel. Boyens was of the view that there was "a lot more story" behind Thranduil, and that he was an interesting character in terms of what they had to make up or expand as part of the films' storytelling as there is not a lot of information present in the original source material. The Elves of Mirkwood are a minor element in the novel and Thranduil in particular has no quarrel with Thorin or his company of Dwarves, who are only imprisoned because they are trespassing on the Elvenking's territory and refuse to tell him why. The existing story narrative of Thranduil as an isolationist leader was identified by the writers, who worked with Pace to figure out some of the character's backstory.