New Shot Of Martin Freeman As Bilbo Baggins In THE HOBBIT

The January edition of the UK's Empire magazine is rolling out now and what should lie within but a new image of Martin Freeman as Bilbo Baggins in Peter Jackson's The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey.

Though the theatrical release of the first of Jackson's two Hobbit films is still a year away the first trailer will roll out in North America next week, attached to the Jackson-produced Tintin and my hunch is that this image likely comes from a shot included in that trailer.

The Hobbit follows the journey of title character Bilbo Baggins , who is swept into an epic quest to reclaim the lost Dwarf Kingdom of Erebor, which was long ago conquered by the dragon Smaug. Approached out of the blue by the wizard Gandalf the Grey , Bilbo finds himself joining a company of thirteen dwarves led by the legendary warrior, Thorin Oakensheild. Their journey will take them into the Wild; through treacherous lands swarming with Goblins and Orcs, deadly Wargs and Giant Spiders, Shapeshifters and Sorcerers. Although their goal lies to the East and the wastelands of the Lonely Mountain first they must escape the goblin tunnels, where Bilbo meets the creature that will change his life forever ... Gollum.

Here, alone with Gollum, on the shores of an underground lake, the unassuming Bilbo Baggins not only discovers depths of guile and courage that surprise even him, he also gains possession of Gollum's "precious" ring that holds unexpected and useful qualities ... A simple, gold ring that is tied to the fate of all Middle-earth in ways Bilbo cannot begin to know.

Cate Blanchett, Elijah Wood, Hugo Weaving, Lee Pace, Ian McKellen, Christopher Lee, Richard Armitage, Andy Serkis, Ian Holm, James Nesbitt, Evangeline Lilly, Luke Evans, Benedict Cumberbatch all join Freeman in the expansive cast.