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Rory Kinnear’s first look asRings of Power’s Tom Bombadil was met with harsh criticism. He is one of the most complicated figures in J.R.R. Tolkien’s lore and one that’s difficult to bring to the screen.
Many have made remarks on his appearance, while others were worried that his portrayal would bring the franchise to its ruin. Whatever the reasons of the fans, it seems like Kinnear will have a tough time justifying his role.
Rings Of PowerSeason 2 Introduces Tom Bombadil
In an exclusive interview withVanity Fair, showrunnerJ.D. Payneexplained how they brainstormed the introduction of Rory Kinnear as Tom Bombadil in the upcoming sequel toRings of Power.
There’s a reason why he hasn’t been in prior adaptations, because in some ways, he’s sort of an anti-dramatic character. He’s not a character who has a particularly strong agenda. He observes drama, but largely doesn’t participate in it. In The Fellowship of the Ring, the characters kind of just go there and hang out for a while, and Tom drops some knowledge on them.
In other words, he just makes a cameo in a couple of scenes and doesn’t contribute as much to the larger story. This is why fans are wondering why the showrunners bothered to include him in the second installment.
The Rings Of Power: Sauron’s 3 Greatest Powers & 3 Greatest Weaknesses
Kinnear, on the other hand, was candid enough to admit he hasn’t read the books and therefore has no prior knowledge aboutTom Bombadil. His partner, however, was a Tolkien fan.
I hadn’t read it. I said, ‘I’ll go away and read it and get back to you.’ And I went downstairs to my partner, who did know the books, and does know the films, and I said, ‘I’ve been offered this part. Apparently, it’s in the books. A guy called Tom Bombadil.’ She was like, ‘No way! You’re not playing Tom Bombadil!’
That was when he realized he is going to play a character that had “a cultural heft to it that I was going to have to be sensitive to.” Bombadil’s age remains a mystery, but what fans know is that he has existed way before the dawn of thefirst Dark Lord. No one knows a lot about this figure that’s why he remains an enigma.
Fans Are Upset With Rory Kinnear’s Look As Tom Bombadil
After the release of Rory Kinnear’s photo as Tom Bombadil,Lord of the Ringsfans immediately went wild on social media complaining about the character. As mentioned, they were very particular about how he looked. Check out their tweets below:
The fact that our first official image is of him completely straight-faced instead of smiling isn’t a good sign.
— Covered in Bees 🐝 (@covered_n_bees)August 02, 2025
This looks like the costume designer was a 5th grader
— Jeff B (@jbas34)June 14, 2025
I unfortunately have very little faith that they’ll get the vibe right, otherwise I’d be happy to see Tom in a show/movie.The overall feel of the Amazon show is big, important, serious – don’t know how they would square that with Bombadil
— Lucaemar (@Lucaemar)August 16, 2025
Tom Bombadil would never have such a serious expression as this.
— Alan ₿ Watts ⚡️ (@alanbwt)June 03, 2025
Still not going to subject me or my family to this garbage. Already he doesn’t look like Tom from the books
— Dustin Straight (@Carnage2469)August 10, 2025
This cannot be real. This looks like a Party City costume.
— Millennial Mush 🍊 (@millennialmush)July 02, 2025
Interestingly, despite the character’s mysterious persona, they know how Bombadil acted jolly in the books. They also know he’s supposed to be the most powerful character inLord of the Rings. He was even immune to the powers of the Ring when he showed a magic trick to a shockedFrodo Baggins.
The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power Review: Massive To A Fault
It remains to be seen how Kinnear will justify the character inRings of Power, so fans better mark their calendars for the premiere on June 14, 2025 only on Amazon Prime Video.
Ariane Cruz
Senior Writer
Articles Published :3531
Ariane Cruz is a Senior Writer at FandomWire, majorly focusing on TV shows with over 3,000 articles published. Her love for pop culture and the creative arts fuels her passion to deliver engaging and informative stories. Her daily consumption of films, shows, and books keeps her energized for the day, along with her mission to serve as the bridge between fans and their favorite franchises.
