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Here is an all-new teaser poster promoting The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey. It accompanies a larger banner design that you may soon be spotting in your local cinema.

A new synopsis of the picture was also released by New Line Cinema. The story it told was so:

"The adventure follows the journey of title character Bilbo Baggins, who is swept into an epic quest to reclaim the lost Dwarf Kingdom of Erebor from the fearsome 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 Oakenshield. 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.

"The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey will be released on December 14th, 2012. The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug, will be released on December 13th, 2013, and The Hobbit: There and Back Again, will be released on July 18th, 2014."

New Line Cinema and Warner Bros. have released the domestic poster for The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey and it features Bilbo Baggins (played by Martin Freeman in the movie). The hobbit poster evokes memories of the teaser poster for the first Lord of the Rings movie, The Fellowship of the Ring, which sported a similar close-up shot of Frodo (Elijah Wood's character) holding Sting, the magical short sword owned by his uncle Bilbo.

For the first time, The Hobbit poster also shows us the credit block for the film. Four producers are listed (Carolynne Cunningham, Zane Weiner, Fran Walsh and Peter Jackson) along with four executive producers. What's interesting is the equally shared credits for all four of the screenwriters which would indicate that all four writers consider themselves as equals on the movie. That's a particularly nice nod from Peter Jackson, who came on after Guillermo del Toro worked on the script for The Hobbit and then left when the movie fell into a financial limbo due to MGM's insolvency.

The second trailer for The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey has made its online debut this morning.

This new trailer offers a more lighthearted tone than the first trailer did, choosing to focus on the adventure aspect for Bilbo and his dwarven companions. A good chunk of time is also given to Bilbo's encounter with Gollum, the current keeper of the ring.

And there are glimpses of Radagast the Brown, new trolls and the elves Galadriel and Elrond.

Watch the trailer below.

Eight new images from the first Hobbit movie have made their debut on USA Today's website. We're treated to looks at Martin Freeman's Frodo, the dwarves, Ian McKellen's Gandalf the Grey, the CD'ed Gollum as well as this much better look at Radagast the Brown, the wizard that Sylvester McCoy plays in the movie.

Phillipa Boyens also gave the paper some lines about the beefed up presence that McCoy's character has in the movie, and why that is. "He’s not at all like Gandalf," the co-screenwriter explained. "There’s a power and danger and sharpness and wits and cunning even about Gandalf that you sense immediately, whereas Radagast is much quieter and gentler. You could mistakenly think he’s not even a wizard or that he might not have any powers of his own, and then you discover that he does."

Peter Jackson celebrates his upcoming visit to Comic-Con next week by handing us an early treat: this exclusive SDCC 2012 teaser poster promoting The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey.

On the new cover of Entertainment Weekly is a photo of Ian McKellen as Gandalf and Martin Freeman as Bilbo Baggins. Inside there is an article about the mag's visit to the New Zealand set of The Hobbit and ten other exclusive photos. See the Hobbit photo set online here.

Scottish comedian/actor Billy Connolly is a late addition to the cast of The Hobbit films. He'll play a dwarf character named Dain Ironfoot, a cousin to Thorin Oakenshield (played in the films by Richard Armitage). Dain is also considered a mighty warrior by his people.

"We could not think of a more fitting actor to play Dain Ironfoot, the staunchest and toughest of Dwarves, than Billy Connelly, the Big Yin himself," said the director in a studio issued press release. "With Billy stepping into this role, the cast of The Hobbit is now complete. We can't wait to see him on the Battlefield!" [Full story]

This new image of Martin Freeman playing Bilbo Baggins just appeared online. In it we see for the first time the young Bilbo holding his magical short sword Sting.

New Line Cinema has released the first trailer for The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey, and it was worth the wait.

A new image from the first Hobbit movie was released on the film's Facebook page. In it we see a nice clear look of Freeman's Bilbo surrounded by his dwarf companions. As described by the official Facebook page, we're looking at:

(L-r) JAMES NESBITT as Bofur, MARTIN FREEMAN as Bilbo Baggins (front), STEPHEN HUNTER as Bombur, GRAHAM McTAVISH as Dwalin, WILLIAM KIRCHER as Bifur and JED BROPHY as Nori in New Line Cinema’s and MGM’s fantasy adventure “THE HOBBIT: AN UNEXPECTED JOURNEY,” a Warner Bros. Pictures release. Photo by James Fisher. [Full story]

A trio of Hobbit photos have been published in the pages of Entertainment Weekly's latest issue. We've got our first look at Sir Ian McKellen as Gandalf the Grey (seen on the right), our first look at Martin Freeman as the young Bilbo, and a behind-the-scenes photo showing director Peter Jackson and Freeman discussing a scene inside Bilbo's Hobbiton home.

Look at all three images in the gallery section for the film.

Now we know what character Benedict Cumberbatch will play in the Hobbit films, and it's a sizeable role indeed. The Sherlock star will provide the voice for the dragon Smaug, hoarder of the gold inside the Lonely Mountain and the primary adversary in both Hobbit movies.

Peter Jackson confirmed today that Orlando Bloom will be reprising his role as Legolas in The Hobbit pictures now filming in New Zealand.

"Ten years ago, Orlando Bloom created an iconic character with his portrayal of Legolas. I'm excited to announce today that we'll be revisiting Middle Earth with him once more," Jackson said via his Facebook page. "I’m thrilled to be working with Orlando again. Funny thing is, I look older—and he doesn’t! I guess that's why he makes such a wonderful elf."

During an interview with a BBC reporter, Martin Freeman let it slip that his fellow Sherlock co-star Benedict Cumberbatch also has a role in The Hobbit. Freeman didn't provide any further details on what the part for his on-screen sleuthing partner was about or how substantial a role it could be.

Flight of the Conchords member Bret McKenzie has nabbed a part in The Hobbit. The New Zealand-born songwriter and singer will play an Elf in the film, though we don't know what his character's name will be.