‘The Hobbit’ actor Richard Armitage (Thorin) previews most anticipated scene in ‘Desolation of Smaug’ By Andrew Sims (HYPABLE)

In what can be considered one of the first interviews about The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey sequel The Desolation of Smaug, actor Richard Armitage (who plays dwarf Thorin) previews which scene he can’t wait see on the big screen.

“I think the barrel sequence [in which the dwarves escape their elf captors by river, hidden in wine barrels],” he answered when posed the question by TotalFilm, “which we all thought was going to be the finale of the first film, is going to be incredible. I’ve seen all the various pieces: the aerial shots of waterfalls with barrels going down them, the very fast-moving river set where we were submerged under water, the wild river we’re floating down towards the end of the sequence… I think it’ll be one of the most thrilling parts of the second film.”

As for where his character’s relationship lies with Bilbo, “The trust between Thorin and Bilbo has now been established. He’s gone from somebody that absolutely dismisses this halfling to realising he’s an essential part of the quest. Bilbo becomes his confidant and that goes further into film three – we’re planting seeds for when Thorin is betrayed by Bilbo.”

READ MORE: http://www.hypable.com/2013/03/25/the-hobbit-sequel-desolation-of-smaug-interview-richard-armitage/

Richard Armitage hopes "The Hobbit" film will stand ‘test of time’ March 19, 2013 | 2:30 p.m. (LA TIMES)

For his turn as dwarf king Thorin Oakenshield in Peter Jackson’s “The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey,” actor Richard Armitage drew inspiration from a very different regal figure created not by J.R.R. Tolkien, but rather William Shakespeare.

“I was in a production of ‘Macbeth,’” Armitage told Hero Complex on the occasion of the film’s release last December. “So I went back to all my notes about ‘Macbeth,’ because I just felt there was something about that character unwinding that was relevant to Thorin unwinding in this story.”

Thorin, of course, plays a key role in the first of Peter Jackson’s planned three-part adaptation of Tolkien’s beloved 1937 children’s novel, “The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey,” which makes the trek to Blu-ray and DVD this week.

Audiences have a new opportunity to enjoy Armitage’s performance as the mighty warrior who joins forces with an initially reluctant Bilbo Baggins (Martin Freeman) to reclaim his homeland and the treasure that’s been stolen by the dragon Smaug.

READ MORE: http://herocomplex.latimes.com/movies/hobbit-star-richard-armitage-hopes-film-will-stand-test-of-time/

Richard Armitage, Andy Serkis, James Nesbitt for The Hobbit

https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=QNBVJnrDssw

Exclusive Video: Martin Freeman on The Hobbit The star of The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey has some NSFW words for his co-star Benedict Cumberbatch. (CRAVE ON LINE)

March 5th, 2013 William Bibbiani

Bibbs grills the star on his personal history with J.R.R. Tolkien's fantasy series, how the ending of The Hobbit changed when the film split from two films into three, and Andy Serkis's first turn behind the camera as Peter Jackson's 2nd Unit Director. Freeman also has some decidedly choice words for his "Sherlock" co-star, and the future voice of Smaug, Benedict Cumberbatch. You can see them on-screen together (sort of) in The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug, which hits theaters on December 13, 2013.

READ MORE: http://www.craveonline.com/film/interviews/453879-exclusive-video-martin-freeman-on-the-hobbit