The Hobbit : Videos

Trailers etc

A teaser trailer of The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey, released in December 2011, can be seen at the film's IMDB page and at the Apple website.

Another set of trailers can be seen at the official website of The Hobbit.

Several TV spots have also been released. The first and second were released in October 2012. The third, fourth, fifth, sixth (featuring Bilbo and Thorin) and seventh were released in November. The eighth, ninth, tenth, and eleventh were released in December. There's also a 60 second Japanese TV spot that begins with Thorin singing 'Misty Mountains'.

The Hobbit: An Unexpected Dinner Party is a wry, behind-the-scenes look at the shooting of the dwarves eating dinner at Bilbo's house. As Richard Armitage says, "Whenever there's an opportunity for a food fight or a drinking song, the dwarves will take it."

Return to Middle Earth is a 13 minute special report on The Hobbit from ENTV, including comments by Richard Armitage about Thorin.

The first trailer for The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug was released in June 2013.

The second trailer was released in October 2013.

Press conference

The press conference held in Wellington, New Zealand, on 11th February 2011 was attended by Martin Freeman, Richard Armitage and the actors playing the dwarves. (Richard speaks at approximately 26 minutes into the recording.)

Production videos

Peter Jackson posted regular video blogs about the filming of The Hobbit on his Facebook page:

Start of Production, 14th April 2011 (also on YouTube) introduces the filming, including a look at sets, costumes and props. Also shown is the Powhrihi welcoming ceremony that took place on the sound stage on the first day of filming (21st March). Richard Armitage spoke on behalf of the cast, in Maori (at approx 8 minutes into the video).

Production video no 2, 8th July 2011 (also on You Tube) was shot as the first block of filming came to an end. Several of the actors, including Richard Armitage ( at 3' 7"), reveal what they'would be doing during their break. It includes a discussion with Andy Serkis, who plays Gollum and also acts as second unit director, and shows Jackson location scouting in the south island of New Zealand.

Production video no 3, 20th July 2011 (also on YouTube) shows some of the cast and crew, including Richard Armitage, talking about their favourite moments from the first block of filming.

Production video no 4, 14th November 2011 (also on YouTube) concentrates on the advantages and problems of shooting The Hobbit in 3D.

Production video no 5, 23rd December 2011, shows location filming on The Hobbit.

Production video no 6, 1st March 2012, shows more location filming over the last two months of 2011 as the second block of filming came to an end.

Production video no 7, 6th June 2012, is a tour of the Stone St studios in Wellington, where most of the filming was done, and it shows the many staff and departments involved in making the film. Richard Armitage appears briefly at various points in the video.

Production video no 8, 23rd July 2012, covers The Hobbit's visit to Comic Con, and includes some of the footage of the last few days of principal photography that was shown there. Several of the cast and crew talk about their memories of the filming. Richard Armitage says, "One of the memories that really sticks in my head the most is walking in through the gates of Stone St at 4.45 in the morning when it's dark, and there's no-one else here, and the stars are still out, and then slowly the studio comes to life and the sun comes up. I saw a lot of those days."

Production video no 9, 23rd November 2012, shows the post-production work on the film in the weeks leading up to its premiere. Richard Armitage is seen very briefly at approximately 9' 25" re-recording a line.

Production video no 10, 14th December 2012, shows the world premiere of The Hobbit : An Unexpected Journey in Wellington and the preparations for it.

Production video no 11, 1st July 2013, shows the pick-up shooting that completes the trilogy.

Production video no 12, 5th November 2013, looks back at the pick-ups shot earlier in the year.

Production video no 13, 5th December 2013, covers the end of filming this year, and some of the post-production work.

Production video no 14, 20th December 2013, shows work on the music for The Desolation of Smaug.