The Hobbit Titles, Release Dates Revealed

With Peter Jackson and his all-star cast hard at work on the film adaptations of The Hobbit, New Line Pictures have confirmed the titles and release dates of both parts of the anticipated sequel. The first half, set for release in cinemas on December 14th 2012, will be called The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey, featuring Gandalf the Grey's recruitment of Bilbo Baggins and a journey encompassing forests, battlefields and an ancient cave which holds a strange golden ring that binds its terrifying owner eternally yet could prove to be the salvation or the end of Middle Earth in days to come. Then, on December 13th 2013, we'll see The Hobbit: There and Back Again hit the box office, as Bilbo must use his newly acquired powers to enter the castle of devilish dragon Smaug and steal back the kingdom of the dwarves, only to find he may set in motion events that if portrayed by the right director could very well span an award-winning trilogy...and if that isn't a shameless plug, I don't know what it is. The line-up of big names who have either lead roles or nostalgia-inducing cameos includes: Martin Freeman; Ian McKellen; Cate Blanchett; Hugo Weaving; Orlando Bloom; Elijah Wood; Ian Holm; Christopher Lee; Andy Serkis; Richard Armitage; Sylvester McCoy; Benedict Cumberbatch; Stephen Fry; James Nesbitt and many more. Look out for the first teaser trailers later this year in the build up to the release of An Unexpected Journey next Christmas.