The Hobbit: Peter Jackson’s Video Diary From the Set

Peter Jackson has posted a new production video for The Hobbit on his Facebook, highlighting the break in production that occurred after 54 days of shooting. The cast and crew are due back on set September 5th to begin filming on block two.

Hit the jump to watch the blog.

Here’s the synopsis for J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Hobbit:

Bilbo Baggins, the hobbit, is a peaceful sort of cozy hole in the Shire, a place where adventures are uncommon and rather unwanted. So when the wizard Gandalf whisks him away on a treasure hunting expedition with a troop of rowdy dwarves, he’s not entirely thrilled. Encountering ruthless trolls, beastly orcs, gigantic spiders, and hungry wolves, Bilbo discovers within himself astonishing strength and courage. And at the ultimate confrontation with the fearsome dragon Smaug, the hobbit will brave the dangers of dark and dragon fire alone and unaided.

Andy Serkis as Gollum, The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey

Martin Freeman as Bilbo Baggins and Hugo Weaving Elf King Elrond

The two Hobbit movies were written by Jackson, Fran Walsh, Guillermo del Toro, and Philippa Boyens, based on J.R.R. Tolkien’s original novel. The cast includes the return of Ian McKellen‘s as Gandalf, Hugo Weaving as Elrond, Elijah Wood as Frodo Baggins, Cate Blanchett as Galadriel, Orlando Bloom as Legolas, Ian Holm as an elder Bilbo, and Sir Christopher Lee as Saruman. The newcomer cast is led by Martin Freeman as the young Bilbo, along with Richard Armitage as dwarf leader Thorin Oakenshield, Luke Evans as Bard the Bowman, Sylvester McCoy as the wizard Radagast, Benedict Cumberbatch as the voice of the dragon Smaug, Mikael Persbrandt as the shape-shifter Beorn, Evangeline Lilly as the Woodl and Elf Tauriel, and Barry Humphries as the Goblin King.