The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug is a 2013 epic fantasy adventure film directed by Peter Jackson. It is the second installment of a three-part film adaptation based on the 1937 novel The Hobbit by J. R. R. Tolkien. It was preceded by An Unexpected Journey (2012) and will conclude with There and Back Again (2014), and together they will act as a prequel to Jackson's The Lord of the Rings film trilogy. The Desolation of Smaug is set in Middle-earth sixty years before the events of The Lord of the Rings, and portions of the film are adapted from the appendices to Tolkien's The Return of the King. The wizard Gandalf the Grey (Ian McKellen) investigates a growing evil at Dol Guldur, while Bilbo Baggins (Martin Freeman) continues his quest with thirteen Dwarves, led by Thorin Oakenshield (Richard Armitage), to reclaim the Lonely Mountain from the dragon Smaug (Benedict Cumberbatch). The film's screenplay was written by Peter Jackson, his longtime collaborators Fran Walsh and Philippa Boyens, and Guillermo del Toro, who was originally chosen to direct before leaving the project in 2010. The ensemble cast also includes Evangeline Lilly, Lee Pace, Luke Evans, Orlando Bloom, James Nesbitt, and Ken Stott, and features Stephen Fry, Sylvester McCoy, and Manu Bennett. Cast: Martin Freeman as Bilbo Baggins: a hobbit hired by the 13 dwarves, on the advice of wizard Gandalf, to accompany them on a quest to reclaim the Lonely Mountain from Smaug Ian McKellen as Gandalf the Grey: a wizard who recruits Bilbo and helps to arrange the quest to reclaim the Dwarves' lost treasure in Erebor. Richard Armitage as Thorin Oakenshield: the leader of the Company of Dwarves who has set out to reclaim the Lonely Mountain from Smaug Benedict Cumberbatch as Smaug (vocal performance and motion capture): the last great dragon of Middle-earth, who claimed the Lonely Mountain including the vast treasures of Erebor and the surrounding human areas,[5][6][7] and as the Necromancer: the mysterious sorcerer of Dol Guldur with the ability to summon the spirits of the dead. Orlando Bloom as Legolas: The Elven Prince of Mirkwood and the son of Thranduil.[8] Evangeline Lilly as Tauriel: An elf from Mirkwood. She is the Chief of the Guards for the Elvenking, Thranduil.[9] Luke Evans as Bard the Bowman: Bard of Esgaroth was a skilled archer and the heir of Girion, the last king of old Dale.[10] Evans also plays Girion in a flashback.[11] Lee Pace as Thranduil: Referred to in the novel as "The Elvenking", he is the ruler of the realm of the northern part of Mirkwood. He is also the father of Legolas.[12][13] Stephen Fry as Master of Lake-town: The leader of the settlement of Men at Lake-town near the Lonely Mountain.[10] Graham McTavish as Dwalin: brother of Balin. Ken Stott as Balin: brother of Dwalin. Aidan Turner as Kíli: nephew of Thorin and brother of Fíli. Dean O'Gorman as Fíli: nephew of Thorin and brother of Kíli. Mark Hadlow as Dori: brother of Nori and Ori. Jed Brophy as Nori: brother of Dori and Ori. Adam Brown as Ori: brother of Dori and Nori. John Callen as Óin: brother of Glóin. Peter Hambleton as Glóin: brother of Óin, and father of Gimli, the noble Dwarf who accompanies Frodo on his quest. William Kircher as Bifur: cousin of Bofur and Bombur. James Nesbitt as Bofur: brother of Bombur and cousin of Bifur. Stephen Hunter as Bombur: brother of Bofur and cousin of Bifur. Cate Blanchett as Galadriel: an Elf and the co-ruler of Lothlórien along with her husband, Lord Celeborn. Mikael Persbrandt as Beorn: A skin-changer; a man who can assume the appearance of a great black bear.[14] Sylvester McCoy as Radagast the Brown: a wizard of Gandalf's Order. Craig Hall as Galion: Elven King Thranduil's butler, whose fondness for drink allows for Bilbo and the dwarves' escape attempt. Ryan Gage as Alfrid: The Master of Laketown's conniving servant. John Bell as Bain: Son of Bard, he is described as "confident and brave and ready to do battle if required even though he is still a boy."[15] Mark Mitchinson as Braga: captain of the Lake-town Guard. Manu Bennett as Azog: An Orc and the nemesis of Thorin Oakenshield, on whom he seeks revenge for losing his forearm and hand in battle. Lawrence Makoare as Bolg: An Orc and the son of Azog. Ben Mitchell as Narzug: An Orc who gets interrogated by Thranduil after the ambush at Mirkwood. Nick Blake Blake as Percy: A Lakeman who is the porter of Laketown. Richard Whiteside as Barliman Butterbur: The innkeeper of the Prancing Pony in Bree. Dallas Barnett as Bill Ferny Sr.: An assassin hired to kill Thorin Oakenshield at the Prancing Pony in Bree.

• published: 14 Jan 2014
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