10 Lord Of The Rings Book Characters We're Thankful Were Left Out Of The Movies
7. Bill Ferny
When Frodo arrives in The Prancing Pony in the The Fellowship of the Ring novel, he is spotted by Saruman's spy, Bill Ferny. After learning Frodo wields the One Ring, the dastardly schemer alerts the Nazgul of the hobbit's whereabouts.
But in the first film, the Nazgul instinctively learn of Frodo's location after he puts the One Ring on his finger. This was a nice change since watching the Ringwraiths pinpoint Frodo's position immediately after he wears the ring is a better visual than watching some guy tell them where he is.
Now, if that's all Ferny did in the novel, it would be understandable why he was removed. However, Ferny is involved in another key scene. In the final pages of Return of the King, Ferny helps Saruman take over all of Hobbiton, forcing Frodo and his friends to face the white wizard's forces and free his people.
This is a fine climax for a novel but it seems a little anticlimactic for a film, especially after following an epic battle. As a result, Peter Jackson decided to cut this scene, giving Ferny little purpose in the movie.