The first clip and a large batch of high-resolution images from The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey have been released.  The clip is quite nice, as it features Ian McKellan’s Gandalf entrusting Martin Freeman’s Bilbo with a very familiar-looking sword.  We’ve seen plenty of money shots in the film’s trailers and TV spots, but this clip highlights one of the softer moments of the film and brings to mind the earnestness that worked so well in The Lord of the Rings.  The new images are also a swell treat for fans, as we’re given a first look at Christopher Lee back as Saruman alongside the angelic Cate Blanchett as Galadriel, as well as The Goblin King and some seriously nasty-looking trolls.

Hit the jump to check out the clip and images.  The film also stars Richard Armitage, Hugo Weaving, Andy Serkis, Peter Hambleton, John Callen, Ken Stott, Graham McTavish, James Nesbitt, William Kircher, Aidan Turner, Dean O’Gorman, Mark Hadlow, Jed Brophy, Adam Brown and Stephen Hunter.  The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey opens December 14th.

With Peter Jackson’s The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey releasing in just a couple of months (squee!), you can expect the marketing machine to begin steamrolling audiences starting…now!  Just yesterday we brought you this fantastic Dwarf-centric poster for the film.  Today, we stick with the Dwarves but instead of stacking them together unceremoniously, this new banner poster gives each of them their fair share of elbow room.

The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey stars Martin Freeman, Ian McKellen, Richard Armitage, Peter Hambleton, John Callen, Ken Stott, Graham McTavish, James Nesbitt, William Kircher, Aidan Turner, Dean O’Gorman, Mark Hadlow, Jed Brophy, Adam Brown and Stephen Hunter and opens December 14th, 2012.  Hit the jump to check out the banner poster.

A new dwarf-centric poster for The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey has been released.  We recently saw a new poster for the film that featured Martin Freeman’s Bilbo in a familiar pose, and this one-sheet gives us a look at all of Bilbo’s dwarven companions that accompany him on the titular trek.  It’s a fun look at all the characters, and I think it gives onlookers a sense of the varied characteristics of the dwarves.

Hit the jump to take a closer look.  Directed by Peter Jackson, the film also stars Ian McKellen, James Nesbitt, Stephen Hunter, Mark Hadlow, Graham McTavish, Dean Ogorman, Peter Hambleton, Aidan Turner, Jed Brophy, John Callen, Adam Brown, Ken Stott, William Kircher, Andy Serkis, and Richard Armitage.  The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey opens in 3D on December 14th.

A new trailer for director Peter Jackson‘s The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey has been released.  This trailer shines an interesting light on the conundrum of the The Hobbit.  It has to look even bigger than what came before, but what came before what a quest to save the entire world.  The new trailer breaks down the plot, which is about the dwarfs reclaiming their homeland.  So the stakes are smaller, but the adventure is somehow bigger.  Putting that conflict aside, the trailer still makes the movie look like a fun time, and perhaps the best thing about The Hobbit is that we’ll get to return to Middle-Earth.

Hit the jump to watch the trailer.  The film stars Martin Freeman, Ian McKellen, James Nesbitt, Stephen Hunter, Mark Hadlow, Graham McTavish, Dean Ogorman, Peter Hambleton, Aidan Turner, Jed Brophy, John Callen, Adam Brown, Ken Stott, William Kircher, Andy Serkis, and Richard Armitage.  The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey opens in 3D on December 14th. [Update: We've embedded all four alternate endings to the trailer after the jump.]

As we previously reported, a new trailer for The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey is set to debut on Wednesday as part of a “Tolkien Week” celebration.  But that won’t be the only part of the celebration.  Today, Warner Bros. has released new images from the film along with character portraits.  A few of the images were previously released, but most are new, and you can check them out after the jump.

The film stars Martin Freeman, Ian McKellen, James Nesbitt, Stephen Hunter, Mark Hadlow, Graham McTavish, Dean Ogorman, Peter Hambleton, Aidan Turner, Jed Brophy, John Callen, Adam Brown, Ken Stott, William Kircher, and Richard Armitage.  The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey opens December 14th.

Although the release date for The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones is still about a year away, we have a production update to share with you.  Along with a new promotional image, we have a fully updated cast listing for the Harald Zwart-directed adaptation of the best-selling Cassandra Clare novel. The fantasy series follows a teenage girl who discovers that she’s descended from a sect of half-angel warriors who protect the world from demons.  Hit the jump for the most up-to-date casting info and a new promotional image.

My grandfather had a saying.  He said, “Matt, never roll out an image of all thirteen dwarves who accompanied Bilbo Baggins on the Quest of Erebor, when you can roll them out piecemeal and create greater awareness for The Hobbit.”  I was the strangest piece of wisdom I’ve ever received, but now it’s starting to make sense.  We’ve shown the dwarven brothers Nori, Ori, and Dori, and the dwarves Oin and Gloin (also brothers), and now its time for another set of dwarf bros: Fili (Dean O’Gorman) and Kili (Aidan Turner).

Hit the jump to check out the image and to learn more about Fili and Kili.  The Hobbit also stars Martin Freeman, Ian McKellen, James Nesbitt, Cate Blanchett, Orlando Bloom, Ian Holm, Christopher Lee, Hugo Weaving, and Andy Serkis.  The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey will be released on December 14, 2012.  The Hobbit: There and Back Again will hit theaters on December 13, 2013.  Both movies will be in 3D.

On May 30, 2010, we reported that director Guillermo del Toro was leaving The Hobbit because there was no start date in site.  On March 21st, 2011—295 days later—filming on The Hobbit is set to begin with Peter Jackson now at the helm.  The financial mess that kept the film from going in front of cameras has been abated and the movie has a full cast lined up and ready to shoot what will be a two-part film in 3D.  Part 1 of The Hobbit is set for December 2012 and Part 2 is slated for December 2013.  The One Ring reports that “[March 21st] has been chosen following practical considerations of the filming schedule requirements, actor availability and the NZ seasons. Shooting will take place at Stone Street Studios in Miramar and on location around New Zealand.

Hit the jump for a synopsis of J.R.R. Tolkien’s novel.  The Hobbit stars Martin Freeman, Ian McKellen, Richard Armitage, Ken Stott, Graham McTavish, James Nesbitt, Aidan Turner, Jed Brophy, Cate Blanchett, Andy Serkis, Mikael Persbrant, Sylvester McCoy, and Elijah Wood.

Cate Blanchett, Ken Stott (Charlie Wilson’s War), Sylvester McCoy (Doctor Who), and Mikael Persbrandt (Everlasting Moments) have joined the cast of Peter Jackson’s The Hobbit.  Blanchett will reprise her role as Galadriel, the Lady of Lothlorien. Stott will play Dwarf Lord Balin, McCoy will play wizard Radagast the Brown, and Swedish actor Persbrandt will play shape-shifter Beorn.

Also joining the cast are actors Ryan Gage (Outlaw) as Drogo Baggins, and Jed Brophy (District 9) and William Kircher (Legend of the Seeker) as the dwarfs Nori and Bifur, respectively.  These actors will join Martin Freeman, Richard Armitage, Aidan Turner, Rob Kazinsky, Graham McTavish, John Callen, Stephen Hunter, Mark Hadlow, Peter Hambleton, Adam Brown, and James Nesbitt.  Hit the jump for the press release.  The Hobbit will be released in 3D in December 2012 and December 2013.

Martin Freeman is officially Bilbo Baggins in The Hobbit.  For a second there, it looked like he would miss out due to prior commitments.  Then he was the frontrunner.  As recently as last week, he was in negotiations for the role.  But once Warner Bros. puts it in a press release, it’s official.  Can’t wait to see him in the role, assuming the film eludes derailment.

Director Peter Jackson has recruited eight more members to play various dwarves:

• Richard Armitage (MI-5) as Thorin Oakenshield
• Aidan Turner (Being Human) as Kili
• Rob Kazinsky (EastEnders) Fili
• Graham McTavish (Secretariat) as Dwalin
• John Callen (Power Rangers Jungle Fury) as Oin
• Stephen Hunter (All Saints) as Bombur
• Mark Hadlow (King Kong) as Dori
• Peter Hambleton (The Strip) as Gloin

Hit the jump for a list of other actors under consideration, plus the official casting announcement, including quotes from Jackson about why he chose each actor.

On the surface, a television series about a vampire (Aidan Turner), a werewolf (Russell Tovey) and a ghost (Lenora Crichlow) who all share a flat together sounds like something that would be more campy than anything. But, in its two seasons, the BBC drama Being Human – a witty and extraordinary look into the lives of three twenty-somethings and their secret double lives – has become a fan favorite and a cult sensation.

During a recent interview, co-stars Aidan Turner, Russell Tovey, Lenora Crichlow and Sinead Keenan talked about expanding the world in Season 2, hinted at the possibilities of Season 3 and revealed how lucky they feel to be a part of something that is so special to them. Check out what they had to say after the jump:

The full schedule for Comic-Con will be unveiled in early July, but BBC has announced that they’ll hold panels for the ghost/werewolf/vampire dramedy Being Human and the educational spoof Look Around You.

• The July 23rd Being Human panel includes a signing and fan Q&A with creator/writer Toby Whithouse alongside cast members Russell Tovey, Lenora Crichlow, Aidan Turner, and Sinead Keenan.  The series premieres July 24th on BBC America.
• Look Around You creators/stars Robert Popper and Peter Serafinowicz will likewise hold a signing/Q&A on July 23rd.
• Sadly, the Doctor Who production schedule will prevent the cast and crew from attending, but there will be plenty of Time Lord-related merchandise on sale.

Hit the jump for the full press release.