"The Hobbit Desolation of Smaug" Trailer Release Reveals Glimpse of Smaug the Dragon (VIDEO)
Fans were eagerly anticipating that the first trailer for "The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug," which is the second in trilogy that precedes Peter Jackson's "The Lord of the Rings" collection.
The special effects do not disappoint and fans will be excited to see Smaug, the deadly dragon, for the first time.
The dragon, played in motion capture by Benedict Cumberbatch, appears right at the end of the trailer, turning its head towards Bilbo Baggins who is played by Martin Freeman.
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Much of trailer features shots focused on the elves and includes the return of Orlando Bloom as Legolas, and the debut of Evangeline Lilly as Tauriel.
Jackson' s second installment in the prequel trilogy is set to hit theaters on later this year on Dec. 13. It follows Bilbo, the dwarves and Gandalf as they continue on their journey to get the gold back from Smaug. The third installment, The Hobbit: There and Back Again, is scheduled to be released on Dec. 17, 2014.
Critics expect Jackson's most recent installment of this trilogy to rival the earnings of his previous one. "The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey" series smashed its box office opening weekend grossing nearly $85 million in U.S. sales in the first three days
The first chapter in Peter Jackson's latest trilogy earned an estimated $84.78 million, Box Office Mojo reported, which is higher than the previous December record of 2007's "I Am Legend" starring Will Smith, and the $73.3 million debut of "The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King" in 2003. It should be noted, however, that theaters offering 3D/IMAX viewing options might have inflated "The Hobbit's" numbers.
Besides the $84 million made in the U.S., the prequel based on J. R. R. Tolkien's classic children's book made another $138 million internationally, bringing up its worldwide total to $222 million after only three days – already making well over its estimated $180 million production budget.
