SIR PETER JACKSON'S
"THE HOBBIT: AN UNEXPECTED JOURNEY"
IS SELECTED FOR
THE ROYAL FILM PERFORMANCE 2012
Academy Award winner Sir Peter Jackson's
The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey, the first of three films in his epic adaptation of the enduringly popular masterpiece, has been selected for the 65th Royal Film Performance. The Royal UK Premiere screening event will take place on the evening of Wednesday 12th December in London, in the presence of members of the Royal Family (full details to be disclosed closer to the date).
The Royal Film Performance is the principal fundraising event of the Cinema and Television Benevolent Fund (CTBF), the trade charity for the UK film and television industries. The CTBF provides care and financial support to industry employees and their families who suffer from hardship due to bereavement, illness, redundancy or other misfortunes.
A production of New Line Cinema and Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures (MGM), the film is being distributed in the UK by Warner Bros Pictures and will be released in 3D and 2D in selected cinemas and IMAX on December 14th, 2012.
The President of the Cinema and Television Benevolent Fund, Anne Bennett, commented,
"We are thrilled to be able to host the UK premiere of this highly anticipated first instalment of 'The Hobbit' trilogy. We are thankful to Sir Peter Jackson and Warner Bros., New Line and MGM for providing this opportunity, and are grateful for the unswerving support the Royal Family gives to our charity and the Royal Film Performance. The funds we raise make a huge difference to the lives of many less fortunate colleagues."
Josh Berger CBE, President & Managing Director, Warner Bros UK, Ireland & Spain added,
"We are honoured that 'The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey', one of the most eagerly-awaited films of the year, has been selected as the Royal Film Performance for 2012. It’s fitting that this film, with a significant number of British cast and crew, will help support the great work the CTBF does for those most in need in the UK’s film and television community."
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.