The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey sees the reveal of its runtime and five great Empire magazine covers

THE HOBBIT: AN UNEXPECTED JOURNEY is the gift that just keeps on giving this fall season.

Not only as film magazine Empire released hi-res looks at their five fantastic HOBBIT-themed covers, but the interview with Peter Jackson contained within has revealed the approximate runtime for the film.  I say “approximate” because Jackson pointed out that there are a few effects shots still to be finished that might, once done, alter that running time a wee bit (not to mention the no-doubt massive credits). 

Bearing that in mind, many of you will be happy to know that the first part of Bilbo’s original adventure is “looking like it’s going to be about ten minutes shorter than Fellowship was.  So it’s going to be officially our shortest Middle-earth yet. I mean, Fellowship was just under three hours and this is about 2 hours 40 minutes at the moment.”

So there’s that, and here are the covers!