However, when I finally met Peter Jackson, I indeed realised that I was going to explore Middle Earth!
An interview with Richard by Garth Franklin on Dark Horizons, with quotes from Richard about the inspiration he took for the forced exile of the dwarves, what he thinks of 3D and filming battle scenes including an accident with a shield!
Elijah Wood and Eric Vespe (from the Hobbit set reports, see 1st Dec below) attended BNAT to deliver the trailer.
Billy Connolly, who plays Dain Ironfoot in the film has revealed that the wrap party will take place on 7th July.
Here's a new video on youtube showing Richard promoting The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey extended edition.
Peter Jackson says they are on day 94 or 95 of a 250 day shoot, filming with about 30 goblins, dwarves and the hobbit today.
You can see Thorin jumping to strike at the trolls and then swinging round with his new sword Orcrist at some goblins.
Forced to exile, he became a strong fighter and a charismatic leader, whose only desire is to destroy the creature responsible for his people's misfortune.
New Zealand Post has produced a set of official stamps and coins to commemorate the release of The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey including images of Thorin Oakenshield and other major characters, as reported on the TVNZ site.
Hobbit merchandise, such as statues, books and Lego characters may not always be listed on this news page, but will be added to the RAnet Amazon Stores if available through Amazon (accessible via the links under the picture of the day).
Richard can clearly be seen on the far right, Billy Connolly in the middle and Martin Freeman second from left.
Members of the press visited the set earlier this year and were given access to cast and crew, although no pictures could be taken.
There is a brief chat with some cast members, including Richard, about what they will be doing on their break and then an insight into what is involved when location scouting around New Zealand.
The soundtrack will be available from 10th December from Watertower Music and includes a track entitled 'Misty Mountains performed by Richard Armitage and The Dwarf Cast'.
The Hobbit's amazing transformations, an article in The New Zealand Herald, shows before and after pictures of each of the thirteen dwarves and Bilbo.
I'm afraid there is bad news if you were not able to obtain a Thorin cover of the Empire magazine December 2012 issue, the Empire website has sold out!
Richard gets another mention on the Digital Spy site with regard to The Hobbit, which is apparently set to be the most expensive feature film ever made.
After slaughtering many of Thorin's kin, the great serpent, Smaug, entered The Lonely Mountain and took possession of its vast store of gold and jewels.
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The second film was originally entitled 'There and Back Again', but they have omitted the title of films two and three in this press release only stating that film one will be called 'An Unexpected Journey' as originally titled.
The announcement has now appeared on The Hobbit Facebook page with quotes from the president of New Line Cinema and the president of Warner Bros.
April below about the 10 minute Hobbit preview clip there are lots of reactions on various websites today, but Middle Earth News has an excellent summary with links to some of the more interesting reviews.
October 2010, with the news that Martin Freeman will play Bilbo Baggins, the eponymous hero and Richard Armitage will play Thorin Oakenshield, leader of the Company of Dwarves who set off to reclaim the Lonely Mountain from the thieving dragon Smaug.
Hobbit poster of the 13 dwarves has appeared on the side of a building in Park Avenue, New York City.
An article about The Hobbit press conference and a picture of Richard, Martin Freeman and Ken Stott, also here in the gallery, appeared in last Sunday's New York Times.
