Nordling here.
Whether or not we agree with Peter Jackson's choice to make THE HOBBIT into three movies, he's done it, and so we'll see them all. I'm confident that Peter Jackson and company know what they're doing. The natural inclination these days is to think negatively on something like this, and even myself, the optimist that I am, do it from time to time. I'm still not sure that this story can be made to fit into three films, but I'm happy to be proven wrong.
So what will the movies be called? Well, the first one will remain the same - THE HOBBIT: AN UNEXPECTED JOURNEY. The second one, though, changes from THE HOBBIT: THERE AND BACK AGAIN to THE HOBBIT: THE DESOLATION OF SMAUG. THe third movie will be called THE HOBBIT: THERE AND BACK AGAIN and will be released July 18th, 2014, according to Variety.
So does this mean The Battle Of Five Armies is pushed to the third movie? Sure seems that way. Plus we'll get more Gandalf as he tries to unravel the secret of the Necromancer (Benedict Cumberbatch, who also voices Smaug). Not to spoil - okay, very much to spoil, but the Necromancer is revealed to be the Dark Lord Sauron, returning from the shadows to wreak havoc on Middle-Earth.
In the end, this six picture saga will be the pinnacle of fantasy filmmaking. I can't wait to see how it all comes together.
