Two new images from Peter Jackson’s The Hobbit have been released exclusively to empireonline.com The pics are part of their cover story and can be found inside the mag. Also, apparently the full title of the movie is  The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey. The Hobbit was probably too short coming from the filmmaker who made the Lord of the Rings Trilogy, all with titles so long they barely fit on the marquee.

How perfect is Martin Freeman as Bilbo Baggins?? Not only does he look all ‘hobbit-y’ but he also likes like he could age into Ian Holm who played Bilbo in Jackson’s LOTR. (Always a good thing when doing a prequel, in my estimation. Otherwise it’s just plain jarring.)

Of course, it’s a treat to get a glimpse of Sir Ian McKellan playing a ‘younger’ Gandalf. Luckily, he doesn’t have to play him as a young man, just 60 years younger than Gandalf the Grey. Other than the color of his hair, Gandalf is pretty ageless.

Jackson is filming two prequels at the same time, just as he filmed the Trilogy all at once as well. The return to Middle Earth will include a lot more dwarves and dragons this time out and Jackson promises the same spectacle he delivered with the first three films.

The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey sports a ridiculously talented cast. In addition to the above mentioned Freeman and McKellan, also includes returning denizens of Middle Earth Cate Blanchett, Orlando Bloom, Elijah Wood, Hugo Weaving, Ian Holm, Andy Serkis and Christopher Lee.

There will be much more to come I’m sure as the movie doesn’t open in theaters until 14 December 2012.