It feels crazy to even think it, but December really isn’t that far away anymore, and the end of the year will bring the anticipated second instalment in Peter Jackson’s Hobbit trilogy, The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug.
The first teaser trailer launched back in the summer, and with the new trailer set to arrive later today, Warner Bros. has debuted the first four banners in a five-part series, giving us a look at Bilbo and the Dwarves, Bard the Bowman (Luke Evans), Thranduil the Elvenking (Lee Pace), and Gandalf the Grey.
The second in a trilogy of films adapting the enduringly popular masterpiece “The Hobbit”, by J.R.R. Tolkien, “The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug” continues the adventures of the title character Bilbo Baggins (Martin Freeman) as he journeys with the Wizard Gandalf (Ian McKellen) and thirteen Dwarves, led by Thorin Oakenshield (Richard Armitage) on an epic quest to reclaim the lost Dwarf Kingdom of Erebor.
Martin Freeman is of course front and centre once more as the young Bilbo Baggins. And he’s joined by another excellent ensemble, led by Ian McKellen, Richard Armitage, Evangeline Lilly, Luke Evans, Benedict Cumberbatch, Andy Serkis, Hugo Weaving, Lee Pace, Cate Blanchett, Elijah Wood, Ian Holm, and many more.
Jackson is directing from a script he co-wrote with Fran Walsh and Philippa Boyens, adapting the original novel by J.R.R. Tolkien (and expanding upon it with things like Tolkien’s appendices).
The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug will be released in 3D and HFR 3D on December 13th in the UK and US. Given that An Unexpected Journey topped a billion dollars earlier this year, it will be very interesting to see if The Desolation of Smaug has a repeat performance. In the meantime, here are the new banners, and be sure to come back later when the new trailer hits.
[UPDATE: The fifth and final banner has landed, giving a new look at Legolas’ return alongside Tauriel (Evangeline Lilly).]
