We’re only a few short months away from the release of what is now the first in a trilogy adaptation of The Hobbit, and a few images from Peter Jackson’s film have surfaced by way of a calendar tie-in for The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey.  The front cover features Martin Freeman’s Bilbo flanked by a few of his dwarven companions and Ian McKellan as our old friend Gandalf.  The inside of the calendar, however, includes some more close-up images of the film’s characters, including Hugo Weaving’s Elrond, Cate Blanchett’s Galadriel, and Orlando Bloom as Legolas, as well as our first look at Sylvester McCoy as Radagast the Brown.  Some of the backgrounds are a bit cheesy, and I would have enjoyed a more old-fashioned look to the pictures inside the calendar, but I guess the kids enjoy flashier versions of the Middle Earth heroes.

Hit the jump to take a look at the calendar images.  The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey opens on December 14th.

Images courtesy of ThorinOakenshield.net (via CS):

 

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

“The Hobbit” follows the journey of 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 Oakensheild. 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.