THE HOBBIT OPENS DECEMBER 14TH

AMFM PODCAST

FILMMAKERS ANSWER QUESTIONS AT PRESS CONFERENCE (40 MINUTES)

From Academy Award®-winning filmmaker Peter Jackson comes “The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey,” the first of a trilogy of films adapting the enduringly popular masterpiece The Hobbit, by J.R.R. Tolkien.

The three films tell a continuous story set in Middle-earth 60 years before “The Lord of the Rings,” which Jackson and his filmmaking team brought to the big screen in the blockbuster trilogy that culminated with the Oscar®-winning “The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King.”

The screenplay for “The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey” is by Fran Walsh & Philippa Boyens & Peter Jackson & Guillermo del Toro. Jackson is also producing the film, together with Carolynne Cunningham, Zane Weiner and Fran Walsh. The executive producers are Alan Horn, Toby Emmerich, Ken Kamins and Carolyn Blackwood, with Boyens and Eileen Moran serving as co-producers.

Under Jackson’s direction, “The Hobbit” Trilogy has been shot in 3D 48 frames-per-second and will be released in High Frame Rate (HFR) 3D, other 3D formats, IMAX and 2D. Under Jackson’s direction, “The Hobbit” Trilogy has been shot consecutively in digital 3D using the latest camera and stereo technology. Production has taken place at Jackson’s own facilities in Miramar, Wellington, and on location around New Zealand.

“The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey” and the second and third films of the trilogy—”The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug” and “The Hobbit: There and Back Again”—are productions of New Line Cinema and Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures, with New Line managing production. Warner Bros. Pictures is handling worldwide theatrical distribution, with select international territories as well as all international television licensing being handled by MGM.

“The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey” will be released worldwide beginning December 14, 2012, with “The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug,” the second film, releasing beginning December 13, 2013, and “The Hobbit: There and Back Again,” the third film, slated for release on July 18, 2014. www.thehobbit.com

(L-r) Writer/Director/Producer PETER JACKSON with MARTIN FREEMAN on the set of New Line Cinema’s and MGM’s fantasy adventure “THE HOBBIT: AN UNEXPECTED JOURNEY,” a Warner Bros. Pictures release.

Gollum voiced by ANDY SERKIS in New Line Cinema´s and MGM’s fantasy adventure “THE HOBBIT: AN UNEXPECTED JOURNEY,” a Warner Bros. Pictures release.

MARTIN FREEMAN as Bilbo Baggins

IAN McKELLEN as Gandalf

(L-r) KEN STOTT as Balin, AIDAN TURNER as Kili, WILLIAM KIRCHER as Bifur, IAN McKELLEN as Gandalf, GRAHAM McTAVISH as Dwalin, MARK HADLOW as Dori and MARTIN FREEMAN as Bilbo Baggins

MARTIN FREEMAN as Bilbo Baggins

Gollum voiced by ANDY SERKIS

(L-r) CATE BLANCHETT as Galadriel and IAN McKELLEN as Gandalf

(L-r) STEPHEN HUNTER as Bombur, ADAM BROWN as Ori, MARK HADLOW as Dori, JED BROPHY as Nori and PETER HAMBLETON as Gloin

MARTIN FREEMAN as Bilbo Baggins

(L-r) KEN STOTT as Balin, JOHN CALLEN as Oin, WILLIAM KIRCHER as Bifur, RICHARD ARMITAGE as Thorin Oakenshield (center) and GRAHAM McTAVISH as Dwalin

IAN McKELLEN as Gandalf

(L-r) DEAN O´GORMAN as Fili, AIDAN TURNER as Kili, Mark Hadlow as Dori, Jed Brophy as Nori and WILLIAM KIRCHER as Bifur

SYLVESTER MCCOY as Radagast

(L-r) JAMES NESBITT as Bofur, MARTIN FREEMAN (front) as Bilbo Baggins, STEPHEN HUNTER as Bombur, GRAHAM McTAVISH as Dwalin, WILLIAM KIRCHER as Bifur, and JED BROPHY as Nori