The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies is likely to be our final return to Middle-earth for a very long time, and smart money says Peter Jackson has saved the best ’til last.

He’s been at the helm from the very beginning, and over a decade and five films later, he’s seeing us through to the end.

The final instalment in The Hobbit Trilogy arrives in cinemas this December, bringing a close to one of the most successful franchises of all time, and as Jackson recently promised, Warner Bros. has debuted our first good look at the epic fantasy blockbuster with the first teaser trailer.

Martin Freeman leads the cast for one final outing, joined by Ian McKellen, Richard Armitage, Evangeline Lilly, Orlando Bloom, Luke Evans, Lee Pace, Benedict Cumberbatch, Cate Blanchett, Hugo Weaving, Sylvester McCoy, and Mikael Persbrandt, with of course many, many more completing the substantial ensemble.

Jackson is once more directing from a script he co-wrote with Fran Walsh, Philippa Boyens, and Guillermo del Toro.

Jackson’s said that the full trailer isn’t likely to land before October, so you’ve got a few months to have this on repeat.

The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies will be released in 3D, IMAX 3D, and HFR 3D on 12th December here in the UK, arriving the following week in the US on December 17th.

The Hobbit 3 Poster