Peter Jackson Answers Questions on 'The Desolation of Smaug'
by Shannon KeirnanTo be perfectly honest, this may be a video for only the most die-hard of “Hobbit” fans.
Though it does move a little slowly, those interested in a few glimpses of the sequel to “An Incredible Journey,” “The Desolation of Smaug,” can find a few bits to enjoy.
Those of you (one? Two?) desperate to know the very specific details of Elvish territory (with a special appearance from the most die-hard of all the “Lord of the Rings” fans, Stephen Colbert), will finally find that you’re in luck.
The video hails from the DVD special feature of “The Hobbit.” Those who purchased the film on Blu-ray received a passcode to attend a live feed of director Peter Jackson answering questions from viewers.
Making a special appearance beside Colbert is Billy Boyd, who played Pippin in the “Lord of the Rings” trilogy. Luckily, his question is a bit less detailed than Colbert’s. Fans also ask Jackson the big question—how can he adequately provide an emotional arc for “The Desolation of Smaug” when a two-part movie is broken into three pieces, leaving an essentially empty middle?
Jackson admit it is “complicated to do a middle film,” but says that the advantage is “multiple storylines.”
“The great thing about the second movie, as it was with ‘The Two Towers,’ actually, is that the story starts spreading into multiple storylines, and we follow different characters as the story intensifies and the stakes go up.”
Jackson also reveals a few pictures of what we can expect from the journey, and behind-the-scenes footage brings back Orlando Bloom as Legolas, and introduces (briefly) Evaneline Lilly as Tauriel.