After a marketing campaign that was almost as expansive as the series itself, Warner Bros. is beginning to release the final few stills from Peter Jackson’s upcoming trilogy-capper, The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies.
Rather than tease the epic scope of the titular fight — which will reportedly stretch for no less than 45 minutes — these latest images focus on the wraith of Smaug and, essentially, pick up right where the previous installment left off.
Starring Martin Freeman, Richard Armitage, Evangeline Lilly, Lee Pace, Luke Evans and Benedict Cumberbatch as the fire-breathing behemoth, The Hobbit: The Battle of the Armies will mark Jackson’s farewell to the mystical realm of middle-earth when it arrives on December 17, 2014. Until then, be sure to check out the gallery below to whet your appetite for screen-filling destruction.
“The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies” brings to an epic conclusion the adventures of Bilbo Baggins, Thorin Oakenshield and the Company of Dwarves. Having reclaimed their homeland from the Dragon Smaug, the Company has unwittingly unleashed a deadly force into the world. Enraged, Smaug rains his fiery wrath down upon the defenseless men, women and children of Lake-town. Obsessed above all else with his reclaimed treasure, Thorin sacrifices friendship and honor to hoard it as Bilbo’s frantic attempts to make him see reason drive the Hobbit towards a desperate and dangerous choice.
But there are even greater dangers ahead. Unseen by any but the Wizard Gandalf, the great enemy Sauron has sent forth legions of Orcs in a stealth attack upon the Lonely Mountain. As darkness converges on their escalating conflict, the races of Dwarves, Elves and Men must decide – unite or be destroyed. Bilbo finds himself fighting for his life and the lives of his friends in the epic Battle of the Five Armies, as the future of Middle-earth hangs in the balanc
