New Massive Banner for THE HOBBIT Reveals Our First Look at Beorn

I was already looking forward to The Hobbit panel at this year’s Comic-Con just because Peter Jackson’s an affable guy and I’m eager to (possibly) get a look at this 48fps business, but after recently rewatching Jackson’s glorious extended edition versions of The Lord of the Rings trilogy, I’m doubly excited to delve back into Middle Earth.  We recently got a look at a gorgeous Gandalf-centered poster for the film that will be handed out to Comic-Con goers, and now a ginormous poster banner has been released.  We get teases of quite a few scenes from the pic, including the return of Hugo Weaving as Elrond and Cate Blanchett as Galadriel and our first look at the character of Beorn.

Hit the jump to check out the banner in all its glory, and be sure to check back later this week for our full recap of The Hobbit panel at Comic-Con.  The film also stars Martin Freeman, Ian McKellan, Richard Armitage, Andy Serkis, and Elijah Wood.  The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey opens in 3D on December 14th.

Poster via EW.  Click to embiggen.

Here’s the scenes close up and in order:

Here’s the synopsis for The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey:

“The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey” follows 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 Oakenshield. 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.