The film takes place 60 years before the events of "The Lord of the Rings" trilogy. Bilbo Baggins (Martin Freeman), a comfort-loving hobbit, lives in the Shire. On his 111th birthday, Bilbo inherits a mysterious ring from his uncle, Bilbo's friend, and a wizard, Gandalf (Ian McKellen), visits him. Gandalf persuades Bilbo to join a group of dwarves, led by Thorin Oakenshield (Richard Armitage), on a quest to reclaim their treasure from the dragon Smaug.