Look! Martin Freeman Is The Hobbit In The First Official Images

[Brendon Connelly]

Martin Freeman is, finally, Bilbo Baggins and Ian McKellen is, once again, Gandalf the Grey.



These two stills come from Entertainment Weekly, who also have a behind-the-scenes snap of Peter Jackson giving Freeman some direction.

It's no surprise that these images mesh so nicely with the look of Peter Jackson's Lord of the Rings trilogy, but I might just about go so far as to call it a relief. It's like we never left Middle Earth for a second.

What will set the new films apart, however, is that they are being shot in 3D at 48fps. On screen, they should have a new fluidity and dimensionality all of their own.

[drachenfells]

Fantastic. That has put a big smile on my face.

[MWEDMER]

My happiness is gigantic. Plus I have been going to the cinema this month watching the extended editions. So very exciting.

[linguo]

It's like we never left Middle Earth for a second.

My thought exactly.

[Qward-O]

Ian McKellan looks cool.

I can't wait for these movies.

I hope they incorporate some of the material from The Silmarillion and the "History of Middle Earth" into the two movies. I'd love to see the two trees in Valinor, Telperion and Laurelin.