Lord Of The Rings: 10 Things You Didn't Know About Hobbits
3. Frodo's Cousin Was Eaten By Gríma Wormtongue
Peter Jackson omitted huge sections of Tolkien's book from his screen adaptation. Although it would have been nice to include characters like Prince Imrahil or Beregond, it was necessary to cut certain things.
One of the biggest omissions was the Scouring of the Shire. It served as one of the final chapters of the Return of the King, and featured the four hobbits returning home only to find Saruman had all but destroyed the place. After Saruman's band of half-orcs and ruffians are defeated, Frodo confronts the old Wizard at Bag End.
Saruman reveals his plans to overthrow the Shire extended back before Frodo set out from Rivendell. Frodo's cousin, Lotho, had been buying up property all over the Shire for sometime, and selling goods to Isengard. The two devised a plan to industrialise the Shire, turning it into a police state with the sole purpose to make profit. But Lotho was betrayed by Saruman when he eventually took up residence in Bag End.
It was revealed that Gríma slit Lotho's throat while he slept, and disposed of the body. Saruman also alludes to the fact that Gríma ate the dead hobbit out of desperation.