Andy-Serkis-in-The-Hobbit-An-Unexpected-JourneyThe Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey is finally arriving in theatres this weekend, and the anticipation is naturally running on high. Peter Jackson’s original trilogy stormed the box office three years in a row, and now his prequel trilogy is set to do the same over the next two and a half years.

The film arrives in UK theatres tomorrow, and this Friday in the US, and is expected to have a slew of awesome trailers attached to it. And with hours to count down until it hits, Jackson himself has given us a new clip from the film through Facebook, featuring an encounter between Bilbo Baggins and Gollum.

“The Hobbit follows the journey of title character Bilbo Baggins, who is swept into an epic quest to reclaim the lost Dwarf Kingdom of Erebor, which was long ago conquered by the dragon Smaug. Approached out of the blue by the wizard Gandalf the Grey, Bilbo finds himself joining a company of thirteen dwarves led by the legendary warrior, Thorin Oakensheild. Their journey will take them into the Wild; through treacherous lands swarming with Goblins and Orcs, deadly Wargs and Giant Spiders, Shapeshifters and Sorcerers.

Although their goal lies to the East and the wastelands of the Lonely Mountain first they must escape the goblin tunnels, where Bilbo meets the creature that will change his life forever … Gollum.

Here, alone with Gollum, on the shores of an underground lake, the unassuming Bilbo Baggins not only discovers depths of guile and courage that surprise even him, he also gains possession of Gollum’s “precious” ring that holds unexpected and useful qualities … A simple, gold ring that is tied to the fate of all Middle-earth in ways Bilbo cannot begin to know.”

Martin Freeman takes the lead as the young Bilbo Baggins, alongside an all-star cast, headed up by Ian McKellen, Richard Armitage, Andy Serkis, Cate Blanchett, Hugo Weaving, Benedict Cumberbatch, Elijah Wood, Sylvester McCoy, Billy Connolly, Ian Holm, John Callen, Adam Brown, Jed Brophy, Aidan Turner, Peter Hambleton, Graham McTavish, Dean O’Gorman, Mark Hadlow, Ken Stott, Stephen Hunter, James Nesbitt, and William Kirchner.

We’ve been putting up our interviews with Martin Freeman, Peter Jackson, Ian McKellen, and more this week, which you can go back and watch by clicking on their names.

The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey will be released in 3D in regular and IMAX theatres on 13th December here in the UK, followed a day later on 14th December in the US. The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug will then land on 13th December, 2013, and finally The Hobbit: There and Back Again on 18th July, 2014. For now, here’s the great new clip from the film, whilst we count down the hours. Enjoy.