Watch The Sneak Peek Of THE HOBBIT: THE DESOLATION OF SMAUG; Plus Official New Poster

On Monday, eager HOBBIT fans got the chance to meet new cast members – Orlando Bloom, Evangeline Lilly, Lee Pace and Luke Evans – joining the highly anticipated second film in “The Hobbit” Trilogy, THE HOBBIT: THE DESOLATION OF SMAUG, as part of a global fan celebration.

Held simultaneously around the world, each of the satellite-linked cinemas in Los Angeles, New York, London and Wellington, New Zealand broadcast director Peter Jackson, members of his cast and filmmaking team as they showed exclusive footage from the film and answered questions in front of a live audience.

Below is one of the fantastic surprises they had in store.

Additionally, in cities across the globe – including Brussels, Belgium; Hamburg, Germany; Madrid, Spain; Mexico City, Mexico; Miami, Florida, USA; Paris, France; Rome, Italy; Sydney, Australia; and Toronto, Canada – fans were invited to gather at select cinemas to be among the first to see the extended footage debut and watched the festivities unfold live.

The event was streamed live online so in case you missed it, here’s a replay of the LIVE Q&A.

From Academy Award-winning filmmaker Peter Jackson comes THE HOBBIT: THE DESOLATION OF SMAUG, the second in a trilogy of films adapting the enduringly popular masterpiece The Hobbit, by J.R.R. Tolkien.

The three films tell a continuous story set in Middle-earth 60 years before “The Lord of the Rings,” which Jackson and his filmmaking team brought to the big screen in the blockbuster trilogy that culminated with the Oscar®-winning “The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King.”

THE HOBBIT: THE DESOLATION OF SMAUG continues the adventure of the title character Bilbo Baggins as he journeys with the Wizard Gandalf and thirteen Dwarves, led by Thorin Oakenshield, on an epic quest to reclaim the Lonely Mountain and the lost Dwarf Kingdom of Erebor.

Having survived the beginning of their unexpected journey, the Company continues East, encountering along the way the skin-changer Beorn and a swarm of giant Spiders in the treacherous forest of Mirkwood. After escaping capture by the dangerous Wood-elves, the Dwarves journey to Lake-town, and finally to the Lonely Mountain itself, where they must face the greatest danger of all – a creature more terrifying than any other; one which will test not only the depth of their courage but the limits of their friendship and the wisdom of the journey itself – the Dragon Smaug.

Ian McKellen returns as Gandalf the Grey, with Martin Freeman in the central role of Bilbo Baggins, and Richard Armitage as Thorin Oakenshield.

The international ensemble cast is led by Benedict Cumberbatch, Evangeline Lilly, Lee Pace, Luke Evans, Ken Stott, James Nesbitt, and Orlando Bloom as Legolas. The film also stars (in alphabetical order) John Bell, Manu Bennett, Jed Brophy, Adam Brown, John Callen, Ryan Gage, Mark Hadlow, Peter Hambleton, Stephen Hunter, William Kircher, Lawrence Makoare, Sylvester McCoy, Graham McTavish, Dean O’Gorman, Mikael Persbrandt, and Aidan Turner.

The creative behind-the-scenes team is led by director of photography Andrew Lesnie, production designer Dan Hennah, conceptual designers Alan Lee and John Howe, editor Jabez Olssen, and hair and makeup designer Peter Swords King.

The costumes are designed by Bob Buck, Ann Maskrey and Richard Taylor. Taylor is also overseeing the design and production of armour, weapons, creatures and special makeup, which are once again being made by the award-winning Weta Workshop.

Weta Digital is taking on the visual effects for the film, led by senior visual effects supervisor Joe Letteri. The visual effects supervisor is Eric Saindon, with David Clayton and Eric Reynolds serving as animation supervisors. The music is by Howard Shore.

The film opens nationwide on December 13, 2013.

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