General News
New Photos from THE HOBBIT: THE DESOLATION OF SMAUG; Pop-Up Book of New Zealand Opens
As we begin the month of December and gear up for the release of THE HOBBIT: THE DESOLATION OF SMAUG, check out these latest behind-the-scenes and set photos.
On Monday (12/2), the film will live stream the red carpet from the World Premiere at 6:30pm PT/9:30pm ET. You can follow it here: https://www.facebook.com/TheHobbitMovie and https://twitter.com/TheHobbitMovie
Under Jackson’s direction, the film was shot in 3D 48 frames-per-second and will be released in High Frame Rate 3D (HFR 3D) in select theaters, other 2D and 3D formats, and IMAX. Production took place at Jackson’s own facilities in Miramar, Wellington, and on location around New Zealand. Post production took place at Park Road Post Production in Wellington.
Tickets went on sale Thursday, November 21. Fans will have the opportunity to see the movie first at midnight on Thursday, December 12.
THE HOBBIT: THE DESOLATION OF SMAUG is the highly anticipated second film in Peter Jackson’s epic trilogy adapting the enduringly popular masterpiece The Hobbit, by J.R.R. Tolkien.
Midnight showings for the first film in the Trilogy, THE HOBBIT: AN UNEXPECTED JOURNEY, took in $13 million in the U.S. The film ultimately went on to gross over a billion dollars worldwide.
THE HOBBIT: THE DESOLATION OF SMAUG continues the adventure of the title character Bilbo Baggins as he journeys with the Wizard Gandalf and thirteen Dwarves, led by Thorin Oakenshield, on an epic quest to reclaim the Lonely Mountain and the lost Dwarf Kingdom of Erebor.
Having survived the beginning of their unexpected journey, the Company continues East, encountering along the way the skin-changer Beorn and a swarm of giant Spiders in the treacherous forest of Mirkwood.
After escaping capture by the dangerous Wood-elves, the Dwarves journey to Lake-town, and finally to the Lonely Mountain itself, where they must face the greatest danger of all – a creature more terrifying than any other; one which will test not only the depth of their courage but the limits of their friendship and the wisdom of the journey itself – the Dragon Smaug.
As movie fans await the imminent release of the second film of THE HOBBIT Trilogy – and another epic dose of Middle-earth landscapes – New Zealand has taken a cue from Hollywood by unveiling a giant pop-up book of New Zealand in Los Angeles.
The country that provided the epic scenery that backdrops THE HOBBIT Trilogy movies has installed the world’s largest pop-up book – occupying an area roughly the size of two tennis courts and 50 feet high – in the grounds of the Beverly Hilton hotel, that shows how film fantasy becomes reality for visitors to New Zealand.
Actor Martin Freeman (Bilbo Baggins), at the Laketown set in the giant pop-up book of New Zealand in Los Angeles.
The pop-up book of New Zealand is on site for five days coinciding with the Hollywood world premiere of THE HOBBIT: THE DESOLATION OF SMAUG – produced and directed by acclaimed Kiwi film-maker Sir Peter Jackson. It is divided into four sets representing new filming locations from the film – Hidden Bay (Turoa, Ohakune), Forest River (Pelorus River, Marlborough) Lake-town (Lake Pukaki, Mt Cook), and Beorn’s House (Paradise, Queenstown).
With original pieces of the actual movie sets and living features of the real landscapes, the pop-up book employs multi-media production techniques and film-making wizardry to show how the film fantasy is firmly attached to the real life Middle-earth landscapes of New Zealand.
Guests will literally step into the giant book and take a unique journey through four of the principal filming locations for the Trilogy, combining the actuality of the book, and the magic of the movies with the reality of the Middle-earth locations.
The giant pop-up book of New Zealand, located in Los Angeles.
Cast members of The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug on the New Zealand pop-up book: Aidan Turner, Evangeline Lily, Richard Armitage, Peter Jackson, Martin Freeman, Luke Evans, Dean O’Gorman.
Authentic props used for the pop-up book of New Zealand include the giant wooden armchair from Beorn’s house, two-level waterside houses and a boat from Lake-town and the gigantic brooding bust of the dwarf king Thror that stood over the back entrance to Lonely Mountain.
Access to the pop-up book of New Zealand will be reserved for a series of invitation-only events, but a select group of lucky film fans will have the chance to browse the pages as part of a special public tour this Wednesday.
Jackson’s epic Tolkien-inspired productions of the LORD OF THE RINGS and THE HOBBIT Trilogies have created a legendary fan following and been at the source, over the past decade, of a film tourism phenomenon for his home country New Zealand.
THE HOBBIT: THE DESOLATION OF SMAUG will be in theaters worldwide on December 13, 2013.
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