Watch “The Hobbit” movie trailer (video) for the highly anticipated “The Lord of the Rings” prequel, due in theaters December 14, 2012.

Peter Jackson returns to direct The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey, telling the stroy of Bilbo Baggins, played by Martin Freeman (“The Office”).

Sir Ian McKellan, Andy Serkis, Orlando Bloom, Elijah Wood, and Cate Blanchett reprise their roles, while Evangeline Lilly joins as Tauriel and Luke Evans plays Bard.

Jackson’s “The Hobbit: There and Back Again” is expected to be released in 2013.