Even though it's still six months away, it feels like The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug will soon be upon us.  The marketing is ramping up, and new behind-the-scenes images have been released from the upcoming sequel.  Like we saw from the trailer, the second film is going to go heavy on the elves with Legolas (Orlando Bloom) returning along with the introduction of Thranduil (Lee Pace), the Elvenking and Legolas' father, as well as original character, Tauriel (Evangeline Lilly).  I assume the marketing is saving the Smaug (voiced by Benedict Cumberbatch) stuff until closer to the release date.

Hit the jump to check out some of the behind-the-scenes images.  The film also stars Martin Freeman, Ian McKellan, Richard Armitage, John Bell, Jed Brophy, Adam Brown, John Callen, Stephen Fry, Ryan Gage, Mark Hadlow, Peter Hambleton, Stephen Hunter, William Kircher, Sylvester McCoy, Graham McTavish, Michael Mizrahi, James Nesbitt, Dean O’Gorman, Mikael Persbrandt, Ken Stott, and Aidan Turner.  The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug opens in 2D, 3D, and HFR 3D on December 13th.

Pick up the latest issue of Empire magazine for more images.

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.