New Hobbit trailer seeks the mountain

The new trailer for The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey is here!

We first learned about the trailer earlier this week when the studio posted a short promotional video and poster teasing the big event. Frankly, I thought it was a bit silly at first to tease a teaser. Yes, it’s a strange trend born of a quickened cinema news cycle, but this trailer may have been worth it – as the footage comprises new and compelling material.

This trailer covers the plot of the film, and takes a closer look at some of the personalities that will populate the story. There is a lot of room for detail here, as director Peter Jackson has decided to lengthen the story into three films.

An Unexpected Journey looks every bit as excellent as The Lord of the Rings films, which is really no surprise considering Peter Jackson is at the helm again. The only truly disappointing aspect about the films is just how long we’re going to have to wait to see the whole thing; even longer now that there is a third film coming. Luckily, it’ll only be about six-months between the second and third, rather than the year between the first two.

The synopsis of the film is thus:

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.

The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey hits theaters Dec 14 , 2012. The follow up film, The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug, follows on Dec 13, 2013. The third and final Hobbit film, The Hobbit: There and Back Again hits on July 18, 2014.