Blink and you're out of luck, but sharp-eyed J.R.R. Tolkien freaks can catch a glimpse of Smaug in the new teasers hyping The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey.
A few seconds into the TV spot embedded above, the gold-hoarding dragon flies into view for the first time. The ancient creature, performance-captured by Benedict Cumberbatch, makes a cameo in the first installment of Jackson's trilogy, but the New Zealand director hopes to whet Hobbit-philes' appetite for more Smaug in parts 2 and 3.
“I want to present the most venal, scary, decrepit, nasty dragon I possibly can,” Jackson told Hero Complex.
Bilbo (Martin Freeman) and Gollom (Andy Serkis) can expect far more screen time in the first Hobbit but the splendid Smaug, conquerer of the Dwarf Kingdom of Erebor and hoarder of Lonely Mountain's treasure, could turn out to be the ancient monster eye candy that brings Middle-earthers back for the sequels.
The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey opens Dec. 14.
