Peter Jackson’s The Hobbit: There and Back Again gets a new official title

We heard rumors that THE HOBBIT: THERE AND BACK AGAIN, the third part of director Peter Jackson's trilogy, would potentially be getting a new title and today that rumor has become fact. Jackson issued a statement via Facebook that the new official title for the film is THE HOBBIT: THE BATTLE OF FIVE ARMIES, which gives a bit more heft for a finale.

From Jackson:

Inside Information…

Our journey to make The Hobbit Trilogy has been in some ways like Bilbo's own, with hidden paths revealing their secrets to us as we've gone along. “There and Back Again” felt like the right name for the second of a two film telling of the quest to reclaim Erebor, when Bilbo’s arrival there, and departure, were both contained within the second film. But with three movies, it suddenly felt misplaced—after all, Bilbo has already arrived “there” in the "Desolation of Smaug".

When we did the premiere trip late last year, I had a quiet conversation with the studio about the idea of revisiting the title. We decided to keep an open mind until a cut of the film was ready to look at. We reached that point last week, and after viewing the movie, we all agreed there is now one title that feels completely appropriate.

And so: "The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies" it is.

As Professor Tolkien intended, “There and Back Again” encompasses Bilbo’s entire adventure, so don’t be surprised if you see it used on a future box-set of all three movies.

Before then however, we have a film to finish, and much to share with you. It’s been a nice quiet time for us—Jabez and I happily editing away in a dark cave in Wellington—but those halcyon days are quickly coming to an end. It will soon be time to step into the light. Expect to see and hear much about The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies in the coming months.

And there’s also The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug Extended Cut, which we’re in the process of finishing, with over 25 mins of new scenes, all scored with original music composed by Howard Shore.

It’ll be a fun year!

It seems to me that folks either love or hate THE HOBBIT trilogy so far. I've heard all the complaints and all the praise, both of which are plentiful. Personally, I love the trilogy thus far and find the movies a lot of fun to revisit. In terms of the title change, I don't think it makes a huge difference other than to really sell a really big battle. It makes sense, I suppose.

What do you think? Does the title make a difference to you?

THE HOBBIT: THE BATTLE OF FIVE ARMIES hits theaters on December 17, 2014.