Need a little more love from The Hobbit? The folks at Empire Magazine certainly understand that as Empire Online has slid out two new photographs from the upcoming two part Hobbit feature, this time showing off Gandalf again as well as Bilbo Baggins, as played by Ian McKellen and Martin Freeman respectively. Everything continues to feel like the production on Lord of the Rings, shifted to a new feature, giving it a great sense of consistency that it needs while standing on its own as well. the first feature is due on December 14th, 2012.
Plot summary: The Hobbit follows the journey of 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 Oakensheild. 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.
