After much fanfare today is the day the eyes of the entertainment world turn to Wellington, New Zealand. The capital will play host to tens of thousands of fans, media from the world over and most importantly the cast and crew of The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey.
Check out all the pictures of the stars on the red carpet
7:20PM - Sir Peter Jackson spoke last with a heartfelt speech, including a special message to his wife and children, as well as the odd joke. He started by saying he would speak for a long time to allow Park Road Post to finish the film.
Sir Peter thanked his wife and co-writer, co-producer Fran Walsh - who was absent - saying she is the one other person who should be here but he can never convince her to get out in front of a crowd. He also thanked his two children for having to put up with their two parents doing such a crazy job.
As he was calling the actors put he said "And now I'll call out the Dwarves - Sleepy, Dopey, Bashful... oops sorry wrong list" Once all the main stars were on stage, Sir Ian McKellen appeared on the huge screens with a special message to his fans.
With that, the crew went into the premiere to watch The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey. It is released to the general public on December 13.
7:00PM - Sir Peter Jackson kept the crowd waiting before his speech and then popped out of a Hobbit door.
He joked that he would talk for a long time so that the film could be finished at Park Road Post.
6:40PM - David Farrier has caught up with some fans from the UK, while at the front of the red carpet the day is done for cameraman Grant Findlay and 3 News reporters Samantha Hayes and Rachel Tiffen.
6:25PM - As they promised, PETA protestors do have a presence on the red carpet.
6:15PM - Sir Peter Jackson talked to John Campbell on the red carpet. He said he never thought he would have another world premiere in the capital after 2003's final Lord of the Rings film. "When we had the premiere for Return of the King it felt like a once in a lifetime moment."
The Hobbit will be shown to a select audience of around 800 tonight - only around five of the crew have seen the final cut so far. "I haven’t seen it with a group of people and I haven’t seen what the reaction is. [I’m] a little nervous," says Sir Peter, "I just have to be calm otherwise my brain would explode."
5:50PM - Hugo Weaving has spoken to 3 News on the red carpet. "I genuinely love this country, Peter celebrates the culture of this country so much. It's a real thrill to come back."
William Kircher, who plays Bifur the dward, told media he grew accustomed to wearing yak's hair as his beard in the movie. "I love yaks now, the next time I see one I'm going to run up to it and go BRRRRRRRRRRRRR"
Graham McTavish, who plays Dwalin the Dwarf, says he's in awe of the film. "This is an overwhelming humbling experience... I was blown away, and I'm in it! I had my jaw on the floor for most of it"
5:45PM - Prime Minister John Key spoke to Samantha Hayes on the red carpet. Does this count as his audition for the next film?
5:40PM - Fans have been getting creative in their attempts to get a glimpse at the stars.
5:30PM - Air New Zealand's specially adorned Hobbit plane has flown over the capital at just 300 meters.
5:25PM - Mark Hadlow, who plays dwarf Dori, says this film, and today's premiere, has been the pinnacle of his career. "It's the most extraordinary moment in my career so far."
Jed Brophy, who plays Nori the dwarf, says the turnout on the red carpet has been spectacular. "I love the fans, this is what we do it for."
5:15PM - Actor John Callen, who plays the dwarf Óin, son of Gróin, is making his way down the red carpet. He says the Hobbit films are like nothing he's ever seen. "It's taken filmmaking to a new level."
Barry Humphries, who plays the Goblin King, shared his co-star's sentiment saying the premiere is similar to Gone with the Wind. "People here will remember this forever".
Humphries, also known for his work as Dame Edna Everage, says his alter ego would've loved to have stared in the film. "Im sure Dame Edna would love to have been in the movie, but unfortunately she's too old."
Humphries says he has not seen the film but understands there is a nude scene, though he doubts this will find him any new female fans.
Barry Humphries on the red carpet
4:50PM - Andy Serkis, who plays Gollum, has arrived.
Fans waiting on the red carpet
4:45PM - Sir Peter Jackson and his daughter Katie caught up with Samantha Hayes on the red carpet. Sir Peter was the first of the cast to step onto the red carpet - a reversal from the Lord of the Rings premieres - and says there was a simple reason for the early arrival. “I wanted to get here and spend as much time as I could signing autographs and meeting the fans,” he says.
Sir Peter also spoke about actor Martin Freeman, who plays Bilbo in the film. Freeman was Sir Peter's first choice for the role but due to a contractual commitment filming had to be worked around the comedy icon's schedule. The director says he never thought about hiring someone else and was more than prepared to work around Freeman. “The fate of the film depended on it,” he says.
Daughter Katie looked stunning in her gold dress and said she just wanted to enjoy the day with her dad. “He’s worked so hard for like two years striaght towards this one film,” she said.
4:40PM - Neil Finn, standing above the crowd; "You're looking pretty bloody fantastic down here on the main drag of Wellington".
"Fran, Peter and the team work ridiculous long hours and go a little mad late at night and that's good with me"
Meanwhile David Farrier spoke to one of the fans in the crowd - Derek, who delivered a great impression of Gandalf the Grey.
4:30PM - Director Sir Peter Jackson has arrived on the red carpet and received a huge welcome from the crowd.
4:20PM - Kiwi artist Neil Finn has performed for the red carpet crowd. He first played the Split Enz hit 'History Never Repeats' and then later 'Song of the Lonely Mountain' from The Hobbit soundtrack, dedicating it to "Peter, Fran and Phillipa" - referring to the film's co-writers Sir Peter Jackson, Fran Walsh and Phillipa Boyens.
4:05PM - David Farrier met John and his dog Amigo. Amigo is developing a bit of a taste for fame, having met Camilla during the recent royal tour.
4PM - The premiere is underway! 3 News is broadcasting live and if you're not near a television you can check out the live stream here (this will work anywhere in the world). The crowds are now packing into Courtenay Place.
3:30PM - Crowds are already starting to grow ahead of 4pm when the festivities will kick into another gear. 3 News reporter David Farrier is patrolling the crowd for the weird and wonderful while Sam Hayes is already on the red carpet.
3PM - Sir Richard Taylor says the LOTR and Hobbit films are intrinsically linked with New Zealand, and couldn’t have been made anywhere else. "This is a New Zealand project and deserves to be made by New Zealanders, and I was very pleased that we managed to keep it here."
2PM - Sir Peter Jackson says he can’t wait for the film to be released so attention can move towards the film and away from the hype. Check out his interview here.
12PM - 3 News cameraman Grant Findlay is all set up at the top of the red carpet.
100,000 people turned out for the world premiere of the third Lord of the Rings film in 2003 and the same number are expected today - some ardent fans even camped out overnight.
The film's stars touched down in Wellington yesterday and received a hearty welcome.
A Hobbit market will kick off at Waitangi Park around midday, but the center for the day's activity is Courtenay Place. Entertainment will start there at 2pm with giveaways and at 4 Neil Finn will perform his song 'Lonely Mountain' - written especially for the film.
The stars of the show will begin to arrive at 4:30pm including the likes of Martin Freeman (Bilbo Baggins), Elijah Wood (Frodo), Cate Blanchett (Elf Queen Galadriel), Hugo Weaving (Elf Lord Elrond), Andy Serkis (reprising his role as Gollum), Richard Armitage (Thorin Oakenshield) and the director himself, Sir Peter Jackson.
3 News will be streaming the whole event from 4pm.
3 News
source: newshub archive
