10 Things Peter Jackson Wants You To Forget About The Hobbit

7. Beorn Is Not The Last Of His Kind

One of the many allies Thorin Oakenshield and Company make on their quest to reclaim Erebor is Beorn the Skinchanger, a Man who has the ability to transform into a bear at will. Beorn is fearsome, but his intimidating exterior masks a good heart and a love of animals. He is keenly interested in Thorin's quest - more specifically in the reason the Orc chieftain Azog is dogging their steps. You learn that his interest is due to the fact that Azog killed and enslaved many Skinchangers, Beorn among them. His tortures and slaughter took their toll on Beorn's people; he is the only Skinchanger left alive. All of this would be an incredibly moving backstory if it weren't for the little detail that none of this was in the book. Beorn never mentions Azog or that his people were once the slaves of the Orcs. In fact, he never mentions his people at all. While that might seem like an indication that he is the only Skinchanger in existence, Gloin mentions Beorn's son Grimbeorn in The Fellowship Of The Ring, meaning that there was at least one female Skinchanger around for Beorn to marry.