The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies world premiere happened earlier today in London. See some highlights from the event!
Did you catch the live stream from the world premiere of The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies?
Peter Jackson’s final foray into J.R.R. Tolkien’s Middle-earth is promising to be both epic and heart-wrenching, if his and the stars’ teasing comments were anything to go by.
Most of the film’s main cast members were in attendance, including Martin Freeman, Sir Ian McKellen, Orlando Bloom, Richard Armitage, and Evangeline Lilly.
They had some fun moments on the red (or green) carpet, and some touching words for waiting fans.
Here are nine of the best quotes and moments from the event:
1. Orlando Bloom and Ian McKellen lock lips
During Orlando Bloom’s short interview, Ian McKellen walked by. Bloom called him over, and the old friends shared a smooch.
It’s nice to see these two actors, who of course also worked together on all three Lord of the Rings films, get along so well. As both of them pointed out in their interviews, one of the best things to come out of this experience are the life-long friendships between the cast and crew.
2. Evangeline Lilly makes a somber promise
The Tauriel actress shared her fears about joining the franchise as an original character, but assured fans that they had made her feel welcome.
Then she was asked to describe the movie, which she has not yet seen in its entirety. Speaking specifically about her scenes with Aidan Turner (Kili), she said that the movie, “will rip your heart out.” …Are we sure we can handle this, guys?
3. Benedict Cumberbatch has a strange fan encounter
Speaking to a reporter, Benedict Cumberbatch revealed he’d done his strangest signing yet: a fan’s tongue. We hope that wasn’t permanent marker!
He also talked about creating Smaug, and mentioned that Andy Serkis (who plays Gollum, and serves as second-unit director) gave him a lot of tips on how to play a digital character.
4. Martin Freeman thinks everything is lovely
Not only did Martin Freeman confirm what we already know – that Hobbit fans are attractive, intelligent, and have very good taste in both clothes and actors – but he also called us “lovely.”
In fact, he called everything lovely: the fans, the film, Peter Jackson, and the entire experience. He really is the perfect gentleman, and a true hobbit at heart.
5. Ian McKellen doesn’t believe this is the end
Sir Ian McKellen talked about the epic journey of bringing Tolkien’s amazing novels to screen, adding that he’s wary of saying a final goodbye to Gandalf.
“I’ll never say it’s the end of anything,” McKellen mused, saying that after wrapping up Lord of the Rings, he was sure it was the end, too, but it wasn’t.
“So I don’t believe necessarily this is the end of the journey.”
6. Ken Stott hints at more films?
While we know the chances of Peter Jackson returning to Middle-earth are slim, Ken Stott (Balin) still has hope.
“I have to wonder if this is really the end,” he says, as the interviewer suggests Jackson can “dig up” a book somewhere. (We’ll take this with a grain of salt, but it’s fun to speculate!)
7. Luke Evans shares a hilarious on-set anecdote
We really want to believe that this is true: Luke Evans claimed that his fondest memory on The Hobbit set is of Ian McKellen doing the can-can “without his trousers on.”
McKellen was subsequently asked about this, and laughed it off. “I take this very seriously,” he insisted. “Gandalf doesn’t dance!”
8. Orlando Bloom is proud of his legacy
In his interview, Orlando Bloom joked that Legolas is just the character who comes in with his bow, saves the day, “and exists stage left.”
But he’s immensely proud to have appeared in five of the six Middle-earth movies, and hopes his son, grandchildren and great-grandchildren will all remember him for this role.
9. Peter Jackson is (almost) just like us
For Peter Jackson, adapting his beloved Tolkien books for the screen was a dream come true.
And tonight he maintained that, if not for the small fact that he was the one who’d made the films, he’d probably be standing on the other side of the fence, screaming for The Hobbit with the other fans.
“I’m just the lucky fan that got to make the movie,” he said.
Thanking the fans, the cast and the crew, Peter Jackson also revealed that he only finished the final cut a week ago, and tonight is the first time he’ll be seeing the film in its entirety.
It was an emotional event, and we still can’t believe this really is the end!