As the release date for the second film in Peter Jackson’s latest trilogy approaches, Warner Bros. has unveiled two new TV spots and a collection of Empire Magazine covers for The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug.  Both of the TV spots play up the film’s apparently high volume of action, which should come as welcome news to those who felt An Unexpected Journey’s 45 minutes of deliberation over whether or not to go on said journey was a bit much.  The Empire covers are nifty as well, focusing on the film’s lead characters Bilbo (Martin Freeman), Gandalf (Ian McKellan), Thorin (Richard Armitage), and Bard the Bowman (Luke Evans).

Hit the jump to take a look at the TV spots and Empire covers.  If you missed Steve’s on-set interviews with Orlando Bloom and Evangeline Lilly, check them out here and here.  Advance tickets for the film go on sale November 21st, and The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug opens in 2D, 3D, and HFR 3D on December 13th.

Covers via Empire.

Here’s the official synopsis for The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug:

The second in a trilogy of films adapting the enduringly popular masterpiece The Hobbit, by J.R.R. Tolkien, The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug continues the adventure of the title character Bilbo Baggins (Martin Freeman) as he journeys with the Wizard Gandalf (Ian McKellen) and thirteen Dwarves, led by Thorin Oakenshield (Richard Armitage) on an epic quest to reclaim the lost Dwarf Kingdom of Erebor.