9 ‘Lord of the Rings’ Characters Who Deserve Their Own Prequel Movie

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People continue to debate details like whether the Balrog had wings or what became of the Entwives, and it’s not simply due to obsessive fandom. Tolkien’s world of Middle-earth is incredibly immersive. J.R.R. Tolkien dedicated years to crafting The Lord of the Rings, creating a universe so detailed and complex that even minor characters feel fully realized and possess rich histories.

When Peter Jackson adapted the story for film in the early 2000s, the result was truly special. The movies quickly became classics, thanks to the stunning New Zealand scenery, Howard Shore’s unforgettable music, and a perfectly cast ensemble. Even after twenty years, the trilogy remains incredibly impactful.

Peter Jackson’s films were faithful to Tolkien’s story, but large-scale epics inevitably leave some characters underdeveloped. With a group as big as the Fellowship – nine members alone – and a world filled with kings, wizards, and other figures carrying rich histories, it’s impossible to explore everyone fully. We only saw snippets of these characters – brief but captivating glimpses that were enough to make us fall in love with them. That’s why we believe nine characters from The Lord of the Rings deserve their own prequel movies.

Tom Bombadil

Tom Bombadil is a truly unique character in the world of Middle-earth. He appears in The Fellowship of the Ring – the book version, as he wasn’t included in the films – as a cheerfully eccentric figure who lives with his wife, Goldberry, in the Old Forest near the Shire. When Frodo and the Hobbits are escaping the Black Riders, they unexpectedly find themselves on his land, and he simply offers his assistance. He effortlessly saves them from Old Man Willow, welcomes them into his home for a few days with food and constant singing, and then cheerfully sends them on their journey.

Tom Bombadil is a unique character in the story; when he puts on the One Ring, nothing at all happens – he’s unaffected by its power. Tolkien deliberately leaves Tom’s origins and nature a mystery, and that’s why stories focusing on his backstory are more about exploring the world’s myths than following a traditional plot. Tolkien described him as representing the spirit of the English countryside, and even powerful characters within the story, like Gandalf and Galadriel, admit they don’t understand what he is.

Tom, who refers to himself as “Eldest,” insists he’s incredibly ancient – even older than the Dark Lord, the forests, and the mountains. He says he existed before the river, the trees, and even the first rainfall. A story exploring his origins could delve into all of this history.

Morgoth

Many people who know The Lord of the Rings only through the films see Sauron as the main villain. However, the movies don’t fully explain that Sauron originally served another, far more powerful being named Morgoth. Morgoth, also known as Melkor, is the true central villain of Tolkien’s The Silmarillion and features prominently in the detailed history of Middle-earth.

Originally the most powerful of the godlike beings created before the world began, he ultimately chose pride and destruction. He twisted the first Elves into Orcs, stole the beautiful Silmarils from the Elf Fëanor, causing a long war, and reigned for millennia from his fortress of Utumno before finally being overthrown and banished.

As a huge cinema fan, I think a movie about Morgoth could be truly special. It wouldn’t be just another villain-origin story, but a real tragedy. He starts with incredible beauty and power, but it’s his own consuming desire for the Flame Imperishable that leads to his downfall. That slow, heartbreaking corruption is what I find so compelling – it’s a fascinating character arc, not just simple evil.

Beren and Lúthien


Tolkien Talks

To truly grasp the core of Tolkien’s legendary world, focus on the tale of Beren and Lúthien. Tolkien valued this story deeply – he even had both their names engraved on his and his wife Edith’s gravestone. Beren was a human, the last of his lineage, while Lúthien was an Elf, the daughter of King Thingol and the powerful Maia, Melian.

Their love blossoms in the forest of Doriath, despite facing overwhelming obstacles. When Thingol disapproves of his daughter’s choice, he tasks Beren with an impossible quest: to steal a Silmaril from the heart of Morgoth’s fortress. It’s surprising this hasn’t been adapted into a film – the story has all the elements of a classic: a beautiful romance, thrilling action, epic mythological stakes, profound sacrifice, and a bittersweet, yet ultimately hopeful, conclusion.

Radagast


New Line Cinema

Radagast the Brown, sometimes called Aiwendil, was one of five wizards sent to Middle-earth by the powerful Valar. He makes a quick appearance in The Fellowship of the Ring where Gandalf mentions him as a skilled wizard. Throughout Tolkien’s work, especially in Unfinished Tales, Radagast is shown as kind, a bit odd, and much more interested in nature than in the problems of people or elves. He was selected to aid the free peoples in their fight against Sauron thanks to the influence of Yavanna.

Radagast the Brown, a wonderfully eccentric character, appears much more prominently in Peter Jackson’s The Hobbit trilogy. Played by Sylvester McCoy, he’s depicted as a delightfully chaotic figure who lives amongst nature – surrounded by birds’ nests and mushrooms, traveling by rabbit-drawn sleigh, and casually conversing with animals. This feels perfectly normal for him, and a prequel exploring his earlier life and growing connection to the natural world would be a fascinating character study.

Legolas


New Line Cinema

Legolas is a memorable character throughout the trilogy, despite remaining somewhat enigmatic. First appearing in The Fellowship of the Ring as the son of Thranduil and an envoy from Mirkwood, he joins the Fellowship and proves himself to be an exceptional archer. A heartwarming subplot involves his unlikely friendship with Gimli.

I’ve always been fascinated by Legolas, played so brilliantly by Orlando Bloom in both the Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit movies. It’s amazing to think about how old he is, yet we know so little about his past! He was born in Mirkwood during a really dark time, as the forest was falling under the influence of evil. I would absolutely love to see a movie set during his younger years, showing what it was like growing up under King Thranduil as Mirkwood slowly changed for the worse. It would be such a beautiful, yet sad, story, I think.

Boromir and Faramir


New Line Cinema

Boromir and Faramir, the sons of Denethor II, play important roles in the story of Gondor in The Lord of the Rings. Boromir, first seen in The Fellowship of the Ring, is a brave and dedicated warrior who wants to protect Gondor, but his ambition to control the Ring ultimately leads to his death. Faramir, who appears later in The Two Towers and The Return of the King, is different from his brother; he resists the Ring’s power. Tolkien intentionally created these contrasting characters, and together, Boromir and Faramir symbolize the internal conflict within Gondor.

The connection between these brothers is a fascinating part of the story that deserves to be explored further, and a prequel focusing on their lives would be fantastic. Tolkien provides hints in the appendices and through Faramir’s memories, allowing us to imagine their upbringing – a childhood marked by their father’s preference for Boromir, their early days as Gondorian soldiers, and Faramir’s first meeting with the Rangers of Ithilien. Their bond – filled with love, rivalry, and the immense pressure from their father – would make for a compelling story.

Fëanor


Tolkien Talks

Some interpretations of Tolkien’s stories center on Fëanor, a powerful Elf whose actions deeply impact Middle-earth for millennia. Though he doesn’t appear directly in The Lord of the Rings (his story takes place in an earlier age), his legacy looms large. Fëanor was the most skilled craftsman among the Elves, creating the Tengwar writing system and the radiant Silmaril jewels, which were stolen by the dark lord Morgoth, leading to immense loss and destruction for Fëanor.

Fëanor then gathered his seven sons, made a solemn vow to Ilúvatar to recover the Silmarils, and led a group of the Noldor elves out of Valinor to chase Morgoth. In a drastic and defining act, he also burned their ships at Losgar, trapping his own people on the far side of the sea. Fëanor’s story has a powerful, Shakespearean quality, making him a compelling subject for a film that could explore intense moral dilemmas within the franchise.

Gimli


New Line Cinema

Gimli is often underestimated, which isn’t surprising since Dwarves are frequently overlooked in Tolkien’s stories. He first appears in The Fellowship of the Ring as the Dwarf representative chosen to help destroy the One Ring. As a skilled warrior from the House of Durin, he fights bravely in major battles like Helm’s Deep, the Pelennor Fields, and at the Black Gate, consistently proving himself to be a loyal and reliable friend.

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A powerful scene in the movies shows Gimli walking through the ruins of Khazad-dûm, the once-great kingdom of his ancestors. This moment highlights why a prequel focusing on Gimli would be so compelling. The complete story of Khazad-dûm is incredibly rich, detailed across Tolkien’s writings like The Silmarillion and the appendices of The Return of the King. While the Hobbit films touched on some of this history, they primarily centered on Thorin’s story.

Samwise Gamgee


New Line Cinema

As a huge movie fan, I always say save the best for last, and when it comes to Lord of the Rings, that’s totally Samwise Gamgee! He’s in all three films – and the books, of course – and honestly, a lot of us think he’s the real hero. It starts so simply: he’s just Frodo’s gardener and best friend. Then Gandalf overhears him listening in on a private conversation, and suddenly he’s swept up into this incredible journey. From that moment on, Sam is completely devoted to Frodo, and he won’t let anything – absolutely anything – keep him from staying by his friend’s side.

Throughout The Return of the King, Samwise Gamgee bravely carries the Ring for a time, manages to resist its power, and willingly relinquishes it. He battles a massive spider, journeys into the heart of Mordor, and selflessly carries the exhausted Frodo up the slopes of Mount Doom. Sean Astin’s wonderful performance perfectly captures Sam’s inherent kindness and unwavering loyalty.

Honestly, I’d love to see a prequel about Samwise Gamgee! It’s such a simple idea, but it feels really compelling. We all know him as this incredibly loyal and brave companion, but I’m so curious about who he was before everything happened. Tolkien clearly thought the world of Sam, and I think a movie set entirely in the Shire, showing a young Sam growing up, tending his garden, and becoming friends with Frodo would be beautiful. It wouldn’t need any big, epic battles or villains – just Sam being Sam, because he’s always been a fantastic character, and that would be more than enough.

You know you already have a favorite. Who deserves the movie?



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2026-02-22 05:06