The Hobbit films get titles and release dates

Director Peter Jackson's two upcoming films, which are the prequels to Lord of the Rings trilogy, have officially got titles and release dates. The two movies will be based on JRR Tolkien's 'The Hobbit' and are titled The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey and The Hobbit: There and Back Again.

Along with Fran Walsh, Philippa Boyens and Guillermo del Toro, Peter Jackson has penned the screenplays for both the prequels, which are currently being shot back to back in New Zealand. The first movie The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey will hit theaters on December 14, 2012, while the second movie The Hobbit: There and Back Again follows on December 13, 2013.

However, The Hobbit films revolve around the adventures of Bilbo Baggins in his quest to reclaim the lost Dwarf Kingdom of Erebor from the dragon Smaug. Ian Holm is reprising the role of the elder Bilbo. The movie cast includes a number of other Rings veterans.

The following is the list of star cast:

Ian McKellen as Gandalf the Grey
Cate Blanchett as Galadriel
Orlando Bloom as Legolas
Christopher Lee as Saruman
Hugo Weaving as Elrond
Elijah Wood as Frodo
Andy Serkis as Gollum