Entertainment News: the hobbit

"The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey" scored big at the box office this weekend for the second week in a row.

The film, which is one of three films that will serve as a prequel series to the "Lord of the Rings" franchise, earned an estimated $10.2 million for an eight-day domestic cume of $123.3 million, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

"The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey" scored big at the box office this weekend. The film, which is one of three films that will serve as a prequel series to the "Lord of the Rings" franchise, earned an estimated $84.8 million over the weekend, according to The Associated Press.

The haul also set a record for the biggest December opening for a film. The record was previously held by "I Am Legend" with Will Smith, which opened with $77.2 million in 2007.

"The Hobbit: The Unexpected Journey" is on track for a big box office debut.

The film, which is one of three planned films that are prequels to "The Lord of the Rings" franchise, reportedly earned an estimated $37.5 million at the box office on Friday, according to Entertainment Weekly. The sum marks the highest gross ever for a December opening day.

Sir Ian McKellen didn't just spend his time in New Zealand last year filming his role as Gandalf the wizard in Peter Jackson's "Hobbit" trilogy.

In the summer of 2011, the 73-year-old actor performed 15 one-man stage shows across the country and raised $354,000 in funds to help restore the Isaac Theatre Royal in the city of Christchurch, which was damaged the previous February in a 6.3 magnitude earthquake that killed more than 180 people.

Stephen Colbert has reportedly landed a cameo in the upcoming "The Hobbit" trilogy.

It is unclear what role the comedian and political commentator will take on, but the Hollywood Reporter, who confirmed the report, has noted that Colbert will not appear in the first film, "The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey."

A new trailer for Peter Jackson's film "The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey," the first of three films that serves as a prequel to his hit "Lord of the Rings" trilogy has been released and features part of a key scene with a popular and sinister character - Gollum.

The animated character, portrayed by Andy Serkis, is obsessed with the One Ring of power, which he calls his "precioussssss." It makes up a surprise part of a game of riddles he plays with the film's hero, the insecure but curious Hobbit Bilbo Baggins, and is a crucial element of the plot of both "The Hobbit" and "The Lord of the Rings."

Check out photos from "The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey," which is set to hit theaters on December 14, 2012. It is the first part of a prequel to the hit "Lord of the Rings" franchise.

The second installment,"The Hobbit: There and Back Again," is slated to hit theaters on December 13, 2013 and the third film will be released in the summer of 2014.

"The Hobbit" director Peter Jackson took to his Facebook page on Sunday to announce that "Lost" star Evangeline Lilly has joined the cast of the upcoming two-part movie adaptation.

Elijah Wood says he is preparing to head down to New Zealand in October to film "The Hobbit," the two-part prequel to the hit "Lord of the Rings" trilogy, and dished on what fans can expect to see.

Warning: Spoiler alert!

It seems like Peter Jackson's "The Hobbit" will see another familiar face from "The Lord of the Rings" trilogy. Elijah Wood's representatives confirmed in a statement to OnTheRedCarpet.com that the actor will be reprising his role of Frodo Baggins in "The Hobbit" films.

Wood is the second "Lord of the Rings" actor to join the film. It was announced in December that Cate Blanchett will reprise her role of Galadriel, the Lady of Lothlorien.

Orlando Bloom has officially joined the cast of Peter Jackson's upcoming film "The Hobbit."

Bloom starred in the director's "Lord of the Ring" films and will return for "The Hobbit" franchise, despite the fact that his elf character Legolas does not appear in J.R.R. Tolkien's original novel.