IMAX theaters around the USA will be giving out limited edition hand-drawn prints at the 12:01 showings while supplies last. The four gorgeous monochrome prints, reminiscent of the beautiful Alan Lee sketches that graced the credits of “The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King,” depict Gandalf, Bilbo, Thorin and Gollum. You can find a list of theaters participating in the giveaway here. To find a midnight showing Line Party where you can watch the movie with fellow fans, check out TheOneRing’s Line Party site here (also accessible in the drop down “Community” link on the Home Page). Also, check out the other three prints after the break. Line up early, line up often!

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Comedy Central’s The Colbert Report will present four nights of Hobbit-themed programming (Dec. 3 to Dec. 6), pegged to the Dec. 14 release of The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey, EW has learned. Guests will include stars Ian McKellan (Dec. 3), Martin Freeman (Dec. 4) and Andy Serkis (Dec. 6), along with director Peter Jackson (Dec. 5). Said Colbert in a statement: “Elen sila lumennomentielvo*… I mean that sincerely.” For those of you who aren’t quite fluent in Elvish, that means, “a star shines on the hour of our meeting.” Read more…

A sneak preview from The Hobbit that aired on the SyFy channel during the Thanksgiving holiday in the U.S. is now available online. The 41 second clip shows a nice interchange between Gandalf and Bilbo as they explore the treasures found in the cave of the three trolls and Bilbo gets a very nice and valuable gift indeed!

Discussion board member Ataahua comes through for us again with a cool online feature from the New Zealand Herald where you can see just how much The Hobbit actors have been transformed for their roles by makeup and prosthetics. Just drag the slider across each photo to see the actor transform into the character. Check it out and have fun! Read More…

In a recent interview with stuff.co.nz, Sir Ian McKellen revealed that scenes including Gandalf and a young Bilbo were filmed for “The Hobbit: and Unexpected Journey.””Sir Ian says during the film’s development [he] has been forthcoming with Jackson and his co-writers Fran Walsh and Philippa Boyens. For one, he felt that the relationship between Gandalf and Bilbo needed a little history. He suggested a scene showing the wizard being introduced to a baby Bilbo and his mother Belladonna Took and it was shot. He’s not sure if the scene will make the final cut of The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey, but his suggestion was taken seriously. ”We see Gandalf observing this little boy who’s full of beans and full of adventure. And I let him play with [a] toy dragon that I’ve got.” And, when he’s thinking, ‘Who should we get? Oh, there’s that little boy.’ And he goes back to Hobbiton to meet this little boy who’s now grown up and is a real stodgy, dull, settled, unadventurous person. And he’s so disappointed. ‘What happened to you? Come on! You’ve got to go on an adventure, it’ll be good for you. Get back your childish enthusiasm!”’ Read More…

Australians Cate Blanchett, Hugo Weaving and Barry Humphries will all attend the world premiere of the first Hobbit movie in New Zealand next week.

Warner Bros. has announced the stars who will attend the first screening of The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey, in Wellington.

Filmmakers Sir Peter Jackson, Fran Walsh and Philippa Boyens will also be joined by Martin Freeman, who plays the central role of Bilbo Baggins; Richard Armitage, who stars as the dwarf warrior Thorin Oakenshield; Andy Serkis who plays Gollum and Elijah Wood who plays Frodo Baggins.

There may be a nearly 10-metre statue of Gandalf the Grey above Wellington’s Embassy Theatre, but the actor who plays the character, Sir Ian McKellen, won’t be there to see it for himself.

McKellen said he was sorry he could not attend. “I know they (the cast) will have a wonderful welcome from the fans and I envy them. As ever, my heart is in Wellington, and I send my love.”

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