The Desolation of Smaug Official Teaser is Out!

With only 6 months to go before The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug hits theaters around the world, Peter Jackson and his comrades have released the first official teaser trailer.  Check it out below:

First Impressions: 

• Thorin's company will not only make it to the Lonely Mountain during this film, but they will also face-off with Smaug the Terrible.
• Gandalf and Radagast will further explore the mystery of the Morgul blade and the Necromancer, hinted at during the White Council in An Unexpected Journey.

• Orlando Bloom looks like will offer much more than his previously expected cameo role as the "pointy eared elvish princeling."
• Azog the Defiler will be returning and will, undoubtedly, have another epic showdown with Thorin - hopefully, Azog will stop being such a coward and fight Thorin without his creepy white steed this time.
• Bilbo vs. Smaug: We'll see who wins the battle of wits when Morgan Freeman and Benedict Cumberbatch cross paths inside the Lonely Mountain.

Cumberbatch and Freeman Reunite

Benedict Cumberbatch (Star Trek: Into Darkness and Sherlock) and Martin Freeman (The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey and Sherlock) will reunite to form another legendary duo in the upcoming sequel, The Desolation of Smaug.  

Anyone who has watched BBC's critically acclaimed Sherlock will tell you that Cumberbatch and Freeman make a brilliant pair as the ingenious Sherlock Holmes and his lovable sidekick John Watson.  This chemistry, combined with Cumberbatch's outstandingly deep voice (as evidenced when he played Star Trek's villain Khan), were undoubtedly factors in the filmmakers' decision to cast Cumberbatch as the second film's villain.

Those who have read The Hobbit will know that there is a rather extensive and entertaining dialogue between Smaug the Terrible and Bilbo Baggins in the book, which will provide an entertaining contrast from the "elementary, my dear Watson" of Sherlock.

Of particular note is that Cumberbatch will not only provide the voice of Smaug,  but also of the Necromancer in the upcoming films.  Although the Necromancer is no more than mentioned, at most, in The Hobbit, he will likely play a more substantial role in the cinematic trilogy.  If The Lord of the Rings trilogy is any indicator, The Desolation of Smaug will undoubtedly be more fast-paced and entertaining than its predecessor.  Plus, there's a dragon - you can't beat that!