The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug (2013)

The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug (2013)

Director: Peter Jackson

Summary 

After successfully crossing over (and under) the Misty Mountains, Thorin and Company must seek aid from a powerful stranger before taking on the dangers of Mirkwood Forest--without their Wizard. If they reach the human settlement of Lake-town it will be time for the hobbit Bilbo Baggins to fulfill his contract with the dwarves. The party must complete the journey to Lonely Mountain and burglar Baggins must seek out the Secret Door that will give them access to the hoard of the dragon Smaug. And, where has Gandalf got off to? And what is his secret business to the south?

Male Deaths 

• Antony Sher (Thrain)
• Stephen Ure (Fimbul)

Female Deaths 

• None

Trivia 

1. When Guillermo del Toro was going to direct, he had Ron Perlman in mind to voice Smaug.
2. Benedict Cumberbatch suggested writing and reading the Necromancer's Black Speech backwards, and then having the editors reverse the recording to make it sound demonic and unholy.
3. John Bell grew six inches in between the time that principal photography was completed, and pickup shooting began. He had to stoop down when standing next to Luke Evans to maintain continuity.
4. Martin Freeman and the Elvish actors all play characters who cannot grow facial hair. The actors, however, not only grew facial hair, but had a complete five o'clock shadow by the end of a day's filming, even if they were clean-shaved at the beginning of the day. This shadow appears blue on film. Rather than shave repeatedly during the day, the actors had orange make-up applied, which cancelled out the blue shadow.
5. During filming, Sir Ian McKellen had to spend several hours in a box, with nothing but a microphone and pictures of the Dwarves for company (the footage would be edited in to make him look taller than the Dwarves), and was so upset by this, that he exclaimed "This is not why I became an actor!" The microphone was still on, and everyone on-set heard him as a result. In consolation, the cast and crew surprised him by sticking gifts and encouragement messages into his trailer.