Hi. This is Thesecret1070. I am an admin of this site. Edit as much as you wish, but one little thing... If you are going to edit a lot, then make yourself a user and login. Other than that, enjoy Villains Wiki!!!
Revision as of 00:02, 13 January 2021 by Looperreallyreallysucks(Message Wall | contribs)(Destruction (especially in that situation) is still a moral crime. Why do I get the feeling you are deliberately trying to downplay his villainy because he was rejected from PE?)
This villain was proposed but was rejected by the community for not being heinous enough or lacks what is necessary to be a Pure Evil villain. Therefore, this villain shall be added to our "Never Again List", where proposed villains rejected by the community shall be placed to prevent future proposals of the same evil-doer. They can be proposed again (with the permission of an administrator) if new elements appear in their series that can change their status as non-PE villains.
Any act of adding this villain to the Pure Evil category without a proposal or creating a proposal for this villain without the permission of an administrator will result in a ban. Additional Notice: This template is meant for admin maintenance only. Users who misuse the template will be blocked for a week minimum.
The King under the Mountain is dead and where are his kin that dare seek revenge? Girion Lord of Dale is dead, and I have eaten his people like a wolf among sheep, and where are his sons' sons that dare approach me? I kill where I wish and none dare resist. I laid low the warriors of old and their like is not in the world today. Then I was but young and tender. Now I am old and strong, strong, strong, Thief in the Shadows! My armor is like tenfold shields, my teeth are swords, my claws spears, the shock of my tail a thunderbolt, my wings a hurricane, and my breath, death!
„
~ Smaug's famous speech to Bilbo.
“
Revenge?! Revenge?! I will show you revenge! I am fire, I am… DEATH!
„
~ Smaug before going to destroy Laketown in the second live-action movie.
Smaug (also known as Smaug the Dragon) is the main antagonist of the 1937 classic fantasy novel The Hobbit by the late J.R.R. Tolkien, and its many adaptations.
He appears as one of the two main antagonists (along with Azog) of Sir Peter Jackson's live-action The Hobbit film trilogy, serving as the overarching antagonist in An Unexpected Journey, the titular main antagonist of The Desolation of Smaug and a minor yet pivotal antagonist in The Battle of the Five Armies. He is also the main antagonist of the 1977 Rankin/Bass animated film adaptation.
He is a large and dangerous dragon who conquers the Dwarf Kingdom of Erebor, taking the Lonely Mountain and it's vast treasure for himself. 150 years later, a Company of 13 Dwarves, led by Thorin Oakenshield, would set out to take their home back from him. In their quest they were aided by Bilbo Baggins and the Wizard Gandalf, whose real reason for joining the quest was to eliminate Smaug before Sauron would command him for war.
In the live-action film trilogy, he was portrayed by Benedict Cumberbatch in motion capture, who also portrayed Sauron in the same trilogy, Khan Noonien Singh in Star Trek: Into Darkness, William Ford in 12 Years a Slave, The Grinch in the 2018 film of the same name, Dormammu in Doctor Strange and Shere Khan in Mowgli: Legend of the Jungle. In the 1977 animated film, he was voiced by the late Richard Boone. In the 2003 Sierra Entertainment videogame, he was voiced by James Horan.
One of the last great dragons of Middle-earth living near the Grey Mountains, Smaug rose to prominence by laying waste to the town of Dale and capturing the Lonely Mountain (Erebor) with all of its treasure. He was already centuries old at the time, this having happened over 200 years before the events of The Hobbit. The book recounts the tale of a party of dwarves (consisting of a few of the original residents of the Lonely Mountain and their descendants) and the titular hobbit to recapture the mountain and kill the dragon. In the book, he is sometimes called Smaug the Golden, Smaug the Terrible, and Smaug the Magnificent.
Smaug was intimately familiar with every last item within his hoard, and instantly noticed the theft of a relatively inconsequential cup by Bilbo Baggins. According to Tolkien, his rage was the kind which "is only seen when rich folk that have more than they can enjoy lose something they have long had but never before used or wanted". This theft and the dragon's ensuing rampage all echo the story of Beowulf, on which Tolkien was a noted expert and which he described as one of his "most valued sources" for The Hobbit. Among the items in Smaug's possession were the Arkenstone, and a number of mithril mail shirts, one of which was given as a gift to Bilbo by Thorin Oakenshield, the company's leader. In The Lord of the Rings, set 60 years later, the shirt saved Bilbo's relative Frodo from injury multiple times.
Smaug's belly was crusted in gems and gold, which rendered him almost invulnerable. However, when Bilbo met him in his lair, he discovered a bare patch on his left breast. When Bilbo told his Dwarf companions about Smaug's weakness, he was overheard by the thrush that roosted by the mountain's secret door. The thrush in turn told Bard the Bowman of Esgaroth. When Smaug attacked the town, Bard shot his Black Arrow into Smaug's left breast which is the dragon's weak spot, slaying Smaug and causing him to plunge into Esgaroth.
After death
After Smaug's death, Thorin and Company claimed the treasure as theirs by birthright. This created a conflict with Bard and the Elven king, Thranduil, of Mirkwood, who each wanted a portion of the gold as reimbursement for all of the damage that Smaug had caused their kingdoms over the years. Thorin refused to share the treasure as long as they stood in arms before his gate and declared war on both of them.
Conflict was avoided by the arrival of the Goblin and Warg army who wanted the treasure out of greed, and the Dwarves decided to ally with the Elves and Men to fight this greater enemy in what was known as the Battle of Five Armies. The huge battle was eventually won by the Elves, Men and Dwarves, but Thorin was mortally wounded.
Unknown to many, Gandalf had in fact initiated the quest with the intent of limiting Sauron's growing power in the North and ridding him of the Dragon, which he could have used to wage his war against the Free Peoples of Middle-earth.
The Hobbit (1977 animated film adaptation)
In the 1977 Rankin/Bass cartoon film adaptation of The Hobbit, Smaug was voiced by the late Richard Boone. In this version, he resembles an Eastern dragon with ears that are somewhat cat-like.
In Sir Peter Jackson's films
Smaug also appears in Sir Peter Jackson's The Hobbit film trilogy from 2012 to 2014 as one of the primary antagonists, voiced by Benedict Cumberbatch through motion capture.
The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey
Throughout the first film, Smaug is kept either in shadow or never in full body view to keep his appearance a secret until The Desolation of Smaug.
The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug
“
Do you think flattery will keep you alive? No, indeed.
„
~ Smaug to Bilbo Baggins upon their meeting.
Smaug appears as the titular main antagonist.The Extended Edition confirms Gandalf's fears concerning Sauron's plans when Thrain warns him that the Dragon is waiting for the Dark Lord's return. When Bilbo Baggins is sent into the mountain alone to retrieve the Arkenstone, he accidentally awakens Smaug. Before Smaug can spot him, however, Bilbo puts on the One Ring and turns invisible.
Bilbo flatters Smaug, pretending to be an admirer, but the dragon is aware of Bilbo's true intentions. Smaug speaks of a darkness coming to their lands that was preparing for war (hinting at his usefulness to Sauron). Smaug reveals to Bilbo that he knows that he was sent to receive the Arkenstone from Thorin and his company. Bilbo feigns ignorance, but Smaug is not fooled. As he talks with Smaug, Bilbo locates a bare patch on his left breast. When Bilbo locates the Arkenstone, Smaug says that he is tempted to let Bilbo take it and let it drive Thorin insane as it did his grandfather Thrór. Smaug changes his mind, however, and tries to kill Bilbo, but Bilbo once again hides by using the One Ring. In the process, he steals the Arkenstone and escapes.
Smaug eventually finds Bilbo, Thorin and the rest of the dwarf company and attempts to kill them all, but they escape. Thorin eventually conjures up a plan to kill the dragon and the dwarves lead him to the forges and trick him into lighting up the furnaces with his fiery breath, and after a long battle with the dragon, Thorin eventually confronts Smaug and reveals the giant golden dwarf statue, which was set up as a trap as the statue melted into gold and they attempted to drown Smaug in it.
Unfortunately for the dwarves, their strategy fails, as Smaug bursts out of the rivers of melted gold, shakes all of the gold off and flies towards Lake-town, intending to destroy it in a display of power.
The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies
“
Who are you that would stand against me?!?!
„
~ Smaug to Bard the Bowman.
Smaug attacks Lake-town, destroying everything in his path and burning the entire city to the ground. Bard the Bowman, having just escaped capture from the corrupt Master of Lake-town, attempts to pelt Smaug with normal arrows, to no avail.
Bard's son Bain suddenly appears and gives his father the last Black Arrow to use against Smaug. The dragon spots Bard and Bain and taunts them both before attempting to kill them. Bard spots Smaug's weak spot and fires the arrow into the bare patch, killing Smaug as his corpse plunges into the lake, it crushes the fleeing Master of Laketown.
LEGO: The Hobbit Video Game
In the 2014 Lego video game adaptation of the The Hobbit films, Smaug is naturally featured in it as well. He appears as a minifigure and officially appeared in his Lego dragon form in a Lego Hobbit set on October 15, 2014.
Personality
Smaug's only motivation was his greed, he loved gold more than anything and was incredibly possessive over it, even when he had claimed the treasure of Erebor he refused to part with not one single gold coin as he said to Bilbo and was left completely mesmerized when he saw a solid gold statue. Smaug can also be ruthless and cruel, as he destroyed the entire kingdom of Erebor to seize its treasure, and destroyed the entire village of Lake-town as to hurt Thorin's Company. Smaug is also motivated by a sense of vengeance, as when he saw that Dwarves were stealing from him, he destroyed the entire Lake-town as an act of revenge. These traits are commonly found among the servants of evil, making Gandalf's concerns of Smaug serving Sauron all the more important.
Film version
While his personality is more or less the same as the book, in the movie, Smaug is considerably more malicious and cruel. He takes much more pleasure in psychologically tormenting Bilbo, making suggestions that Thorin was just using him, choosing to spare Bilbo just so that he can watch Lake-town burn, nearly allowed the Hobbit to take the Arkenstone, so he could watch it corrupt Oakenshield's heart, and sarcastically asking him how he would like to die. During his attack on Lake-town, Smaug went out of his way to mock and sneer at Bard and Bain. Though as selfish and mighty as he looks, even the Dragon recognizes the power of Sauron, his apparent master. Like his book counterpart, Smaug is extremely destructive and arrogant, and the mere implication that he may possess a weakness made him visibly angry; being insulted by Thorin also was quick to earn his anger. Smaug was also purely confident and persuasive in his own powers, shown in his famous speech about how certain components of his body were weapons of destruction. Smaug was also utterly manipulative and merciless, completely capable of committing genocide in pursuit of his goals. Due to his hubris, egomania and overall extreme narcissism, Smaug clearly suffers from a superiority complex.
Quotes
“
DID YOU THINK I DID NOT KNOW THIS DAY WOULD COME?!! THAT A PACK OF CANTING DWARVES WOULD COME CRAWLING BACK TO THE MOUNTAIN?!!!
„
~ Smaug to Bilbo.
“
My teeth are swords; my claws are spears! My wings are a HURRICANE!
„
~ Smaug boasting about himself.
“
YOU think you could deceive me, Barrel-Rider?! You have come from Lake-town! This is some sort of scheme between these filthy Dwarves and those miserable tub-trading Lake-men! Those sniveling cowards, with their longbows and black arrows! Perhaps it is time I paid them a visit!
„
~ Smaug planning to destroy Lake-town.
“
I will not part with a sssingle coin! Not one piece of it!
„
~ Smaug to Bilbo.
“
Is that your child? You cannot save him from the fire! He will BURN!
„
~ Smaug to Bard.
“
Well, this is a pity. What will you do now, bowman? You are forsaken! No help will come!
„
~ Smaug harassing Bard.
“
WHO ARE YOU THAT WOULD STAND AGAINST ME?!?!
„
~ Smaug to Bard.
“
Tell me, wretch, how now should you challenge me? You have nothing left, but your DEATH!
„
~ Smaug to Bard.
“
There is something about you. Something you carry. Something made of gold. But far more preciioouussss.
„
~ Smaug feels the presence of the One Ring.
“
So tell me, thief, how do you choose to die?
„
~ Smaug sarcastically giving Bilbo Baggins a death threat.
“
Come, now, don't be shy. Step into the light!
„
~ Smaug.
“
REVENGE?! REVENGE?!! I WILL SHOW YOU REVENGE!
„
~ Smaug to the Dwarves.
“
But it matters not. Oakenshield's quest will fail. The darkness is coming. It will spread to every corner of the land…
You care about them, do you? Good. Then you can watch them die!
„
~ Smaug to Bilbo.
“
Don't bother denying it! I guessed his foul purpose some time ago.
„
~ Smaug to Bilbo.
“
The king under the mountain is dead. I took his throne, I ate his people, like a wolf among sheep.
„
~ Smaug explaining his backstory.
“
I kill where I wish, when I wish.
„
~ Smaug revealing his motives.
“
My armor is iron! No blade can pierce me!
„
~ Smaug boasting about himself.
“
You will take nothing from me, dwarf! I laid low your warriors of old. I instil terror in the hearts of men! I am King Under The Mountain!
„
~ Smaug to Thorin.
“
Well, thief. I smell you. I hear your breath. I feel your air. Where are you? Where are you?!?
„
~ Smaug.
“
There is something about you. Something you carry; something made of gold. But far more..precious.
„
~ Smaug.
“
You have nice manners, for a thief, and a LIAR!
„
~ Smaug to Bilbo.
“
You have nothing left but death!
„
~ Smaug's final words before Bard shots him with an arrow and causes him to final to his death on the Master and his men on their boat.
Trivia
In An Unexpected Journey, Smaug clearly has four legs, while in its extended edition, The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug, and The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies, Smaug has four limbs.
This could be because the filmmakers were still making concept designs for Smaug when The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey was released into theaters. Why they could have done this is unknown, but it may have been a surprise to the audience for Smaug's final design in the later releases.
Although Smaug breathes fire during the battle in the film, he never makes reference to "the shock of my tail a thunderbolt" or "my breath death" as he does in the book, nor does he use either on the mountainside before going to Laketown. He also doesn't use any tail whips during the battle.
A red dragon appears in My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic who lives in a tall mountain laying on a treasure hoard, giving him a resemblance to Smaug who was likely his inspiration. Also, the episode where he appears has a similar theme song to Lord of the Rings, and, although this may be a coincidence, six ponies go to convince him to leave Equestria, while in the book, Smaug eats six ponies.
In The Lord of the Rings: Online and The Hobbit Film Trilogy, clues indicate that Smaug was already in league with Sauron. As the Dragons of the Third Age were directed in battling with the Dwarves by the resurgent Dark Lord, it is not unlikely that Smaug was already in service to him by the time he sacked Erebor. Rumors of its treasures might have been brought to his ear by his unseen master, or maybe it was not until later that the Lonely Mountain would figure into Sauron's machinations.
As of 2013, Smaug is ranked by Forbes (as part of their annual Forbes Fictional 15) as the second-wealthiest character in all of fiction, adjusted for inflation, with a net worth of $54.1 billion. He is surpassed only by Scrooge McDuck, with a net worth of $67.4 billion.
In 2012, however, he was briefly ranked at #1, with an estimated net worth of $62.0 billion.
Given that McDuck is technically considered a hero despite his own notorious greed, this may make Smaug the single wealthiest villain in all of fiction.
Smaug is the derivation of a genus of extand girdled lizards with the same genus name, by sharing the dragon-like appearance.
In the film, Smaug was somehow aware of Black Arrows with their proper noun. It is possible due to his recognizing them that he may have encountered the weapons at an unknown prior point in the film continuity or that he remembered their use against him in his attack on Dale.
The portrayal of Smaug in Jackson's movies was beloved by fans and critics alike and Smaug is now considered to be the greatest dragon in cinema.
Incidentally, Cumberbatch also portrayed Sauron in the Hobbit trilogy, once again via motion capture, meaning that Cumberbatch portrayed the trilogy's two principal villains and adding a little more to the servant-master relationship.
Even though Smaug is killed at the beginning of The Battle of the Five Armies, it's safe to say that he was involved in the whole movie, due to Thorin being succumbed to Dragon Sickness, making him live inside Thorin. Only Thorin could keep him away from reality by liberating himself from the malady. However, after being impaled to death by Azog, Smaug was completely gone for good.
Smaug (in the 1977 film) was the third and last character to be voiced by Richard Boone before his death on January 10, 1981.
✓
