Watch Ultraviolet Online Metacritic Xbox' title='Watch Ultraviolet Online Metacritic Xbox' />The Hobbit film series Wikipedia. This article is about the film franchise released between 2. For other films based on The Hobbit, see Middle earth in film. The Hobbit is a film series consisting of three high fantasyadventure films directed by Peter Jackson. They are based on the 1. The Imitation Game ,. The Hobbit by J. R. R. Tolkien, with large portions of the trilogy inspired by the appendices to The Return of the King, which expand on the story told in The Hobbit, as well as new material and characters written especially for the films. Together they act as a prequel to Jacksons The Lord of the Rings film trilogy. The films are subtitled An Unexpected Journey 2. The Desolation of Smaug 2. The Battle of the Five Armies 2. The screenplay was written by Fran Walsh, Philippa Boyens, Jackson, and Guillermo del Toro, who was originally chosen to direct before his departure from the project. The films take place in the fictional world of Middle earth sixty years before the beginning of The Lord of the Rings, and follow hobbit. Bilbo Baggins Martin Freeman, who is convinced by the wizard. Gandalf the Grey Ian Mc. Kellen to accompany thirteen dwarves, led by Thorin Oakenshield Richard Armitage, on a quest to reclaim the Lonely Mountain from the dragon. Smaug voiced by Benedict Cumberbatch. The films also expand upon certain elements from the novel and other source material, such as Gandalfs investigation at Dol Guldur, and the pursuit of Azog and Bolg, who seek vengeance against Thorin and his ancestors. The films feature an ensemble cast that also includes James Nesbitt, Ken Stott, Evangeline Lilly, Lee Pace and Luke Evans, with several actors reprising their roles from The Lord of the Rings, including Cate Blanchett, Orlando Bloom, Ian Holm, Christopher Lee, Hugo Weaving, Elijah Wood and Andy Serkis. The films also feature Manu Bennett, Sylvester Mc. Coy, Stephen Fry, Mikael Persbrandt, Barry Humphries, and Lawrence Makoare. Also returning for production, among others, were illustrators John Howe and Alan Lee, art director Dan Hennah, cinematographer Andrew Lesnie, and composer Howard Shore, while props were again crafted by Weta Workshop, with visual effects managed by Weta Digital. The first film in the series premiered at the Embassy Theatre in Wellington, New Zealand on 2. NVnsqlVnQJQ/hqdefault.jpg' alt='Watch Ultraviolet Online Metacritic Movie' title='Watch Ultraviolet Online Metacritic Movie' />Watch Ultraviolet Online Metacritic WiiNovember 2. One hundred thousand people lined the red carpet on Courtenay Place, and the entire event was broadcast live on television in New Zealand and streamed over the Internet. Find all time good movies to watch. Explore best movies by year and genre. Follow direct links to watch top films online on Netflix, Amazon and iTunes. The Hobbit is a film series consisting of three high fantasy adventure films directed by Peter Jackson. They are based on the 1937 novel The Hobbit by J. Watch He Who Gets Slapped Online He Who Gets Slapped Full Movie Online'>Watch He Who Gets Slapped Online He Who Gets Slapped Full Movie Online. R. R. Full cast and crew list, overview and viewer comments. The second film of the series premiered at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles, California on 2 December 2. The third and final film premiered at Leicester Square in London on 1 December 2. The series was a major financial success, with the films classified as one of the highest grossing film series of all time, going on to outgross The Lord of the Rings film trilogy. Although critically considered to be inferior to The Lord of the Rings, it was nominated for various awards and won several, though not as many as its predecessor. DevelopmenteditFirst stages of developmenteditJackson and Walsh originally expressed interest in filming The Hobbit in 1. The Lord of the Rings. Frustration arose when Jacksons producer, Harvey Weinstein, discovered that Saul Zaentz had production rights to The Hobbit, but that distribution rights still belonged to United Artists which had kept those rights, believing that filmmakers would prefer to adapt The Hobbit rather than The Lord of the Rings. The United Artists studio and its parent corporation Metro Goldwyn Mayer was for sale in 2. Weinsteins attempts to buy the movie rights from the studio were unsuccessful. Weinstein asked Jackson to press on with adapting The Lord of the Rings. Ultimately, The Lord of the Rings was produced by New Line Cinema, not the Weinsteins, and their rights to film The Hobbit were set to expire in 2. In September 2. 00. Metro Goldwyn Mayer expressed interest in teaming up with New Line and Jackson to make The Hobbit. In March 2. 00. 5, Jackson launched a lawsuit against New Line, claiming he had lost revenue from merchandising, video and computer games releases associated with The Fellowship of the Ring. He did not seek a specific settlement, but requested an audit to see whether New Line had withheld money owed him. Although Jackson wanted it settled before he would make the film,1. New Line would still let him make The Hobbit. New Line co founder Robert Shaye was annoyed with the lawsuit and said in January 2. Jackson would never again direct a film for New Line, accusing him of being greedy. MGM boss Harry Sloan halted development, as he wanted Jackson to be involved. By August, after a string of flops, Shaye tried to repair his relationship with the director. He said, I really respect and admire Peter and would love for him to be creatively involved in some way in The Hobbit. The following month, New Line was fined 1. On 1. 6 December 2. New Line and MGM announced that Jackson would be executive producer of The Hobbit and its sequel. The two studios would co finance the film and the latter studio via 2. Watch How Weed Won The West Online (2017). Century Fox would distribute the film outside North AmericaNew Lines first ever such deal with another major studio. Each films budget was estimated at US1. US9. 4 million budget for each of the films in Jacksons Lord of the Rings trilogy. After completion of the merger of New Line Cinema with Warner Bros. February 2. 00. 8, the two parts were announced as scheduled for release in December 2. Producer Mark Ordesky, the executive producer of The Lord of the Rings, planned to return to supervise the prequels. Jackson explained he chose not to direct because it would have been unsatisfying to compete with his previous films. In February 2. 00. Tolkien Estate through The Tolkien Trust, a British charity and Harper. Collins Publishers filed a suit against New Line for breach of contract and fraud and demanded 2. The Lord of the Rings trilogy. The suit claimed New Line had only paid the Estate an upfront fee of 6. The suit claimed the Estate was entitled to 7. Tolkien films, as established by prior deals. The suit also sought to block the filming of The Hobbit. The suit was settled in September 2. However the Tolkien Trusts 2. New Line Cinema of 2. US3. 8 million. This amount was the Trusts estimated share in respect of the gross profit participation due for the films based on The Lord of the Rings.