Variety reports that despite rumours running rampant around the floor of the San Diego Comic-Con that Peter Jackson was planning to announce plans to helm a third
The Hobbit movie, these claims are NOT true. A studio spokesperson told that site that there are, "no planned or surprise announcements," and that, "The plan was always for two." However, they offer the theory that a third film would not be at all far-fetched. Early on in the development of the adaptation, there was talk of a third film being added in order to better bridge the gap to
The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring. With a budget of around $500 million for both
The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey and
The Hobbit: There and Back Again, it wouldn't be a huge surprise if the studio split the latter in two in a similar style to the final
Harry Potter movie. There are various other reasons (mostly financial) why adding a third picture would make sense, although the site has been told that Jackson was left with far more footage than expect, so it MIGHT happen...but probably not!
The adventure follows the journey of title character Bilbo Baggins, who is swept into an epic quest to reclaim the lost Dwarf Kingdom of Erebor from the fearsome 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 Oakenshield. 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.
STARRING:
Martin Freeman as Bilbo Baggins
Ian McKellen as Gandalf the Grey
Richard Armitage as Thorin Oakenshield
Andy Serkis as Gollum
Hugo Weaving as Elrond
Benedict Cumberbatch as Smaug
Luke Evans as Bard the Bowman
Christopher Lee as Saruman the White
Cate Blanchett as Galadriel
Elijah Wood as Frodo Baggins
Orlando Bloom as Legolas
RELEASE DATE: December 14th, 2012.