In J.R.R. Tolkien's original The Lord of the Rings novels, Tom Bombadil is a key figure, but he was cut entirely from Peter Jackson's movie trilogy. Generally speaking, Peter Jackson's The Lord of the Rings films are faithful adaptations of the source material, but there are some notable deviations. Perhaps the most significant change in The Fellowship of the Ring is the absence of Tom Bombadil.
Tom Bombadil is undoubtedly one of J.R.R. Tolkien's strangest creations. The short time in which Tom Bombadil appears in the first book in the trilogy adapted by the movie reveals nothing about his origin. What's clear is that Tom is unlike any human, dwarf, hobbit, elf, or anything else that resides in Middle-Earth. Though his powers indicate he could be one of Lord of the Rings' Valar or Maiar, he is neither, even though Tom Bombadil is potentially the most powerful creature in Tolkien's legendarium.
Who Is Tom Bombadil?
Bombadil appears in Tolkien's novel when the quartet of Hobbit protagonists are on the beginning leg of their journey, having left the comfy confines of The Shire. Immediately, Frodo's companions find trouble in the Old Forest, as Merry and Pippin are attacked and trapped by a sentient tree considerably less friendly than the Ents they would encounter later on. Desperate, Frodo and Sam seek help and stumble across an old man who introduces himself as Tom Bombadil. This curiously carefree character effortlessly commands the ancient tree to cease his attack and takes the shaken Hobbits back to his home - and this is where the book gets a little trippy. As for who is Tom Bombadil, it's never answered in the books. Rather, his identity is loosely explained through his actions and songs.
Along with Tom Bombadil's wife Goldberry, Frodo's group spend several days with Tom, even telling him about their mission and the Ring, despite strict instructions from Gandalf to the contrary. Strangely, the Ring appears to hold no power over Tom, who doesn't even disappear when he wears it. Although Tom's abilities are never explained, he is described as the "Master" of his realm and seems able to command the forest to his will. Tom is prone to burst into song at a moment's notice and his voice appears to have some kind of hypnotic quality that puts both the forest and his Hobbit guests at ease. It's implied, though not explicitly stated, that Tom's powers only extend to the edge of his land.
Tom Bombadil Was Cut Because He Doesn't Advance The Plot
Fan theories about Tom Bombadil range from him being there during the Lord of the Rings' Istari, to which Tom Bombadil is often compared. In this belief, Jackson is entirely correct, and given that the first film's theatrical version clocks in at almost three hours, material certainly needed to be cut.
It's also difficult to imagine the Tom Bombadil character working in live-action. The chapters in which Bombadil appears not only halt the story's pace completely, but the dream-like nature of Tom's world feels quite displaced from the rest of the book; more like a pleasing excursion than a vital development of the plot. Published in the 1950s, The Lord of the Rings is often named as a key influence in the explosion of folk culture that followed in the next two decades and Tolkien would often crop up in the music of Led Zeppelin, The Beatles and a variety of prog acts (Mick Jagger even wanted to voice Frodo in the animated movie). Indeed, while Lord of the Rings not including Tom Bombadil is regarded by certain audiences as a mistake, he is more at home in the lyrics of Tolkien-inspired songs than Tolkien's actual work. It would take a very brave, foolish, and/or visionary director to try and interpret Tom Bombadil's book scenes for an audience in the new millennium and beyond.
Can Tom Bombadil Show Up In Amazon's LOTR Prequel?
While there's no reason why Tom Bombadil can't appear in the Lord of the Rings series Rings of Power can't afford the huge risk attached to any attempt at bringing the great Tom Bombadil into live-action.
