Part 6/10:
The showrunners, Patrick McKay and JD Payne, confirmed they will include Tom Bombadil in Season 2, played by Rory Kinnear. However, rather than respecting Tolkien’s portrayal, they plan to embed him into a plot involving “The Hobbit,” animating him as part of a broader narrative that appears to force-fit lore into their own creative direction.
The description indicates Bombadil will be embedded in a storyline where he interacts with Nori and Poppy, characters new to Tolkien’s universe. According to the showrunners, Bombadil's role will involve him trying to prevent the spread of destruction — a significant departure from his original character, who was largely detached from the wars of Middle-earth, embodying nature and enigmatic power rather than a proactive protector.