I almost forgot there's a new Hobbit movie coming out this year, but that's probably because we're being so crushed by the summer blockbusters that we haven't turned our attention to the year-end ones.  But it's never too early to start promoting them, and a new image has been released from The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug featuring new character, Tauriel (Evangeline Lilly).  Tauriel is slightly controversial because she's not in any of J.R.R. Tolkien's books, but she does serve the purpose of giving the series a female warrior elf, which I have no problem with.  Lilly explained her character by saying, "Tauriel is the head of the Elven Guard. She’s a Sylvan Elf, which means she’s of a much lower order than the elves we all became acquainted with in The Lord of the Rings. She doesn’t hold the same kind of status that Arwen or Galadriel or Elrond or Legolas do — she’s much more lowly. She sort of goes against the social order of the elves a little bit."

Hit the jump to check out the image, and read more of Lilly's comments about her character.  The film also stars Martin Freeman, Ian McKellen, Luke Evans, Lee Pace, Stephen Fry, Orlando Bloom, and Richard ArmitageThe Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug opens in 3D on December 13th.

Image via WB.

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Lilly tells EW, that while her character will have a love story, she only hints that it could be with Legolas (Bloom):

“Tauriel’s relationship with Legolas is significant. They’ve known each other since they were children, and Legolas’ dad, [Elven king] Thranduil, has a soft spot for Tauriel and sees something very special in her. So if you grow up side by side, and your dad has a very special spot in his heart for this young woman who’s a fantastic warrior, I think it’s hard not to notice her.” She laughs. “That’s probably as much as I can say.”

While I'm a little confused about why Tauriel needs a love story, I can wait to see how it will play out.  My larger concern is how much filler will be packed into Desolation of Smaug, a middle chapter that wasn't intended, but created when director and co-writer Peter Jackson decided he had enough material for three films.