The film takes place in the Shire, 60 years before the events of "The Lord of the Rings." Bilbo Baggins (Martin Freeman), a comfort-loving hobbit, is recruited by the wizard Gandalf (Ian McKellen) and a group of dwarves led by Thorin Oakenshield (Richard Armitage) on a quest to reclaim their treasure from the dragon Smaug. The journey takes them through treacherous landscapes, including the Misty Mountains, where they encounter trolls, goblins, and other obstacles.