In the second highly-anticipated film trailer of the week (there will be at least three), we get our first look at the first of two films based on J.R.R. Tolkien’s Lord of the Ring’s predecessor The Hobbit, once again directed by Peter Jackson.
Even though the Lord of the Rings films are only a decade old, this trailer definitely uses the nostalgia factor to market the film. Not only is the familiar score used, but we see many familiar faces (and one very familiar voice) from the Lord of the Rings films.
Martin Freeman (from the UK version of The Office) leads the cast as Bilbo Baggins and he seems to do a fine job at it. Ian McKellen returns of Gandalf, who recruits Bilbo to go on a quest with a group of 13 dwarves (all of whom are introduced in this trailer). The trailer doesn’t go too much into the story, though there is plenty of breathtaking scenery (and a few battle scenes).
The original novel has been expanded into two films, which are expected to help tie the story together with The Lord of the Rings. We get a peak of this in the trailer, with Elijah Wood and Ian Holm in a bookend scene, as well Cate Blanchett as Galadriel. Then of course, there is the familiar voice of Andy Serkis as Gollum.
It’s a shame that we have to wait a full year to check this film out on December 19, 2012, but I’m sure it will be worth the wait.