New Theatrical Trailer for 'The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey'

Warner Bros. has released the full theatrical trailer for Peter Jackson's The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey, the first of a new trilogy based on J.R.R Tolkien's classic novel. The trailer offers a warm blend of humor, heart, and action; and while the stakes appear smaller than what we've seen in, say, The Lord of the Rings trilogy, the feeling of grand adventure remains in spades. The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey opens December 14th and stars Martin Freeman, Ian McKellen, Hugo Weaving, Cate Blanchett, Andy Serkis, and Richard Armitage. The other two, The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug and The Hobbit: There and Back Again arrive December 13, 2013 and July 18, 2014 (respectively). Synopsis and trailer for An Unexpected Journey after the jump.

“The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey” follows 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 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.

Trailer screenshots (click to enlarge):