As the dark forces of Mordor spread throughout Middle-earth, the fellowship forged to destroy the One Ring of power is broken, leaving Frodo Baggins and the stalwart Sarnwise Gamgee alone to return the ring to Mount Doom -- and to face former ringholder Gollum. Meanwhile, the rest of the fellowship comes up against the growing power of the renegade wizard Sarnman, while huge armies build in preparation for the first great battles of the War of the Ring.