MANILA, Philippines - Director Peter Jackson led a fan event in Wellington, New Zealand and screened simultaneously from different parts of the world Tuesday morning featuring the cast of the second installment of The Hobbit to come out December 13.
Debuting in the event was a new sneak peek to the highly anticipated The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug highlighting the character of the "King Under the Mountain" voiced by Benedict Cumberbatch.
Anderson Cooper hosted the New York event where Orlando Bloom (Legolas) and Richard Armitage (Thorin Oakenshield) answered fans' questions live from another live event located elswehere and from social media. Other stars appear from London, Los Angeles while Jackson and actor Jed Brophy (Nori) are simulcast from New Zealand.
Martin Freeman (Bilbo Baggins), however, missed the event but left a video thanking the fans who attended the event.
Bilbo is not present also. He's THE HOBBIT! Hahaha! I wanna see his video message at the #HobbitFanEvent! Someone upload it please...
— Vanessa Mae de Leon (@vanessa_mae) November 4, 2013
Filipino fans, meanwhile, gushed at English singer Ed Sheeran's announcement on Twitter early Tuesday that he wrote and recorded the end credits song for The Desolation of Smaug.
Shall watch The Hobbit for the end credits and wait for next year for the new album of Ed Sheeran. #fangirling
— Nica Espinoza (@nixespinoza) November 4, 2013
YOU GUYS. Ed on the new Hobbit movie soundtrack!!!
— Misty Gilbuena (@mistang) November 5, 2013