"Will you follow me... one last time?"
Director: Peter Jackson
Cast: Ian McKellen, Martin Freeman, Richard Armitage, Orlando Bloom, Evangeline Lilly
The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies — Characters & Cast
Character Analysis
Thorin Oakenshield
Richard Armitage
Motivation
To restore his kingdom's ancestral supremacy and secure the Arkenstone at all costs.
Character Arc
Reclaims his royal birthright only to be consumed by avarice and paranoia, ultimately breaking free of madness to redeem his honor in mortal combat.
Bilbo Baggins
Martin Freeman
Motivation
To preserve peace, protect his companions, and return safely to the Shire.
Character Arc
Evolves from an insecure burglar into a principled moral mediator willing to risk execution by his friends to avert war.
Bard the Bowman
Luke Evans
Motivation
To secure shelter, food, and future prosperity for his children and displaced populace.
Character Arc
Rises from an imprisoned smuggler to the reluctant, resolute commander and savior of Lake-town's survivors.
King Thranduil
Lee Pace
Motivation
To reclaim stolen elven heirloom white gems and insulate his realm from the chaos of lesser races.
Character Arc
Maintains detached superiority and martial severity until the grief of loss reminds him of the agonizing vulnerability of love.
Gandalf the Grey
Ian McKellen
Motivation
To prevent the strategic fortress of Erebor from falling into the hands of the Dark Lord.
Character Arc
Survives capture at Dol Guldur to act as the tireless herald warning disparate races of Sauron's overarching war machine.
Cast
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