New ‘Hobbit’ trailer debuts online first

TORONTO - Agence France-Presse

The second trailer of famous ‘The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey’ has been released amid controversy over the decision to divide the novel between three films.

The second trailer of “The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey” has been released amid controversy over the decision to divide the novel between three films. The movie will open in cinemas Dec. 14 this year. The Office star Martin Freeman plays Bilbo Baggins, the title character, and Ian McKellen reprises his role from “The Lord of the Rings” films as the wizard Gandalf. Jackson announced earlier this year that “The Hobbit” would be split into three films, all due to be released a year apart. As well as the trailer, several new images have also been released.

Jackson avoided questions on his decision to split J.R.R. Tolkien’s 300-page fantasy novel “The Hobbit” into three feature-length films, amid growing fan criticism. The director of the epic “Lord of the Rings” trilogy said the decision to make three films was possible because of the extended appendices in that novel, in which Tolkien adds details of the Middle Earth fantasy world that provides the setting for “The Hobbit.” But during a press conference in Toronto, a moderator told the public that Jackson would not take any questions unrelated to “West of Memphis,” a film he directed starring Johnny Depp that was premiering in Canada.

Tolkien fans claim that Jackson is seeking to cash in by dragging out stories into several films to reap more box-office revenue, or has run out of new ideas.