New Character Images From THE HOBBIT: AN UNEXPECTED JOURNEY

Peter Jackson returns to Middle-Earth in December, this time adapting J.R.R. Tolkein’s The Hobbit. Originally set to be split into just two films, it was revealed earlier this month that there will now be THREE instalments. Seems like an awful lot for a reasonably short book, but the director reportedly had enough footage in order to stretch it out a little further and it’s thought that he may even delve into some of Tolkein’s other books in order to bridge the gap between these films and Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring. Below are a selection of new character images from the film, uploaded by Twitter's @JonasRJakobsen.

Click on the images below to view the full-size versions.

The adventure follows the journey of title character Bilbo Baggins, who is swept into an epic quest to reclaim the lost Dwarf Kingdom of Erebor from the fearsome 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.