The decision to split JRR Tolkien's slim Hobbit tome into three movies initially caused controversy among fans and critics, for fear the classic adventure would be watered down or even lack momentum.
But their worries seem unfounded - judging by a new trailer for the forthcoming final film in the trilogy.
The teaser for The Hobbit: Battle Of The Five Armies promises every dramatic special effect and battle sequence director Peter Jackson and his Weta Digital workshop can pull out of their magical hats.
Having attempted to destroy Benedict Cumberbatch's sneering fire breathing dragon in The Desolation of Smaug; the dwarves, led by Thorin Oakenshield and aided by hobbit Bilbo Baggins, left the towns surrounding the Lonely Mountain at risk of destruction by a scaly beast intent on revenge.
In a lull before the storm, the trailer begins with Bilbo's voice drifting over footage of elf Tauriel (Evangeline Lilly) looking alarmed as Gandalf (Sir Ian McKellen) rides through battlegrounds; Smaug destroying Lake-town in a fire-breathing fit of rage and Legolas (Orlando Bloom) surveying the smoke filled wreckage.
