In the peaceful Shire, the young hobbit Frodo Baggins inherits a mysterious ring from his uncle Bilbo. The wizard Gandalf discovers that it is the One Ring, an immensely powerful object created by the Dark Lord Sauron, whose return threatens the peoples of Middle-earth. Frodo leaves his home accompanied by his fellow hobbits Sam, Merry and Pippin, beginning a dangerous journey that eventually brings together a fellowship of hobbits, Men, an Elf, a Dwarf and a wizard. Their mission is to keep the Ring from Sauron's grasp and carry it toward the only place where it can be destroyed.