The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug

My thoughts exactly, why is he in there? Why are orcs shooting at the barrels? I know I'd probably still like the movie but come on, that's adding too much drama to a story that is fine on its own!

He's in here because cameo.

But seriously, the trailer showed him more than it should have, and it reeks of the same "throw in as many cameo's as possible" as the Saruman/Galadriel scene from the previous movie.

I suppose Legolas at least makes sense since he is an Elf and therefore old, but I hope his role in the movie is just a cameo.