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The new trailer for the second Hobbit film, The Desolation of Smaug has been released as Bilbo Baggins and his band of small and tall brothers continue their epic quest across Middle-Earth.
Following on from last year’s opening film An Unexpected Journey, the sequel sees Martin Freeman return as the heroic hobbit Bilbo who alongside Thorin (Richard Armitage) and friends face an uphill battle to recover their gold, which is being protected by Smaug the Dragon.
The preview features the group facing perilous danger from orcs and spiders whilst also encountering the Elvish warrior Legolas (Orlando Bloom) and his female sidekick Tauriel (Lost actress Evangeline Lilly).
We also see Bilbo being confronted by Smaug (voiced by Sherlock star Benedict Cumberbatch) himself in what is likely to be the key scene of the film.
Veteran British actor Sir Ian McKellen once again reprises his role as Gandalf the Grey while fellow Brit Luke Evans makes his on-screen debut in the hugely-successful fantasy franchise as Bard the Bowman.
The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug is scheduled to hit cinemas on December 13th. The final film of the prequel trilogy, There and Back Again, will be released the following December in 2014.