Peter Jackson Takes Us On Studio Tour in New ‘The Hobbit’ Video Blog

Peter Jackson has released the seventh video blog from the set of The Hobbit, and much like the previous six, it doesn’t disappoint. On this particular video, Jackson and a special guest take us on a tour around the studio in New Zealand where they are filming most of the on-set scenes. We get to meet most of the dwarves in their trailers, as well as get a peek at all the people who make the production of the movies run smoothly. One of the best parts about the video is seeing Richard Taylor and the fine folks at WETA and all the hard work that they have to go through. I’ve been a huge fan of Taylor’s work for quite some time now, and when we first see him in the video, you can obviously tell that the man is simply exhausted from working on the films. We also get to see Billy Connolly on the set, brought in a couple months ago to play Dain Ironfoot.

Peter Jackson did say that the next video should be the last video blog, as they will be wrapping up the filming in a matter of weeks. The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey opens up in theaters on December 14, and then we will have to wait another year for The Hobbit: There and Back Again, as it opens December 13, 2013.

“The Hobbit” follows the journey of title character Bilbo Baggins, who is swept into an epic quest to reclaim the lost Dwarf Kingdom of Erebor, which was long ago conquered by the 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 Oakensheild. 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.