The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug

The second in a trilogy of films adapting the enduringly popular masterpiece The Hobbit, by J.R.R. Tolkien, The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug continues the adventure of the title character Bilbo Baggins (Martin Freeman) as he journeys with the Wizard Gandalf (Ian McKellan) and thirteen Dwarves, led by Thorin Oakenshield (Richard Armitage) on an epic quest to reclaim the lost Dwarf Kingdom of Erebor.

Peter Jackson is Professor of Global Security in the History Department at the University of Glasgow. He is also Visiting Professor at the Institut d'etudes politiques (Paris) and has taught at the universities of Cambridge, Yale, Carleton and Aberystwyth. He co-edits Intelligence and National Security (the world's leading academic journal for intelligence and security studies) and is the author or editor of five books including France and the Nazi Menace (2000); Understanding Intelligence in the Twenty-First Century (with Len Scott, 2004) and The Uses and Limits of Intelligence in International Society (with Jennifer Siegel, 2005).

Sir Ian McKellen is internationally renowned as the leading British actor of his generation. His Shakespeare performances on stage and screen are legendary. His versatility and preeminence in modern work as well as the classics have earned him over forty important acting awards. For over four decades, alongside his prestigious stage appearances worldwide, he has starred in scores of films, television, and radio productions.

Sir Ian Holm is an English actor known for his stage work and for many film roles. He received a Tony Award for "The Homecoming "and a Laurence Olivier Award for "King Lear" and was nominated for an Academy Award for his supporting role in "Chariots of Fire". His other film work includes "The Aviator", "The Day after Tomorrow", "Alien", "The Fifth Element", and the "Lord of the Rings" film trilogy, in which he played Bilbo Baggins.

Elijah Wood's film credits include Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, Sin City, The Ice Storm, and the Lord of the Rings trilogy, among many others. Wood recently started his own record label, Simian Records, and is an active member and supporter of the Art of Elysium.