Peter Jackson returns us to the world of Middle-earth next month with the release of The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey, the first film in the new trilogy, led by the younger version of Bilbo Baggins.
We saw a new TV spot for the film last month, and now just over a dozen character posters have surfaced, giving us a great look at Bilbo, Gandalf, Gollum, Galadriel, and the Company of Dwarves.
“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, joined by a terrific cast headed up by Andy Serkis, Ian McKellen, Richard Armitage, Stephen Fry, Hugo Weaving, Evangeline Lilly, Luke Evans, Benedict Cumberbatch, Ian Holm, Elijah Wood, Orlando Bloom, Cate Blanchett, Sylvester McCoy, and Christopher Lee.
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 are the great new character posters, which you can click through to enlarge.
