‘Hobbit Into the Fire’: a new trademark sparks rumored name change for ‘There and Back Again’
A new website registration has fans wondering if the next “Hobbit” film will get a name change. The Hobbit: There and Back Again is the official title of the final film in the new trilogy, but a domain registration of “Into the Fire” has people scratching their heads.
UPDATE: Peter Jackson announced that the film has been retitled to “The Hobbit: Battle of the Five Armies”
“When we did the premiere trip late last year, I had a quiet conversation with the studio about the idea of revisiting the title,” he revealed on Facebook.
“We decided to keep an open mind until a cut of the film was ready to look at. We reached that point last week, and after viewing the movie, we all agreed there is now one title that feels completely appropriate.”
The trademark use is unclear as studios often register multiple names, with New Line Cinema previously opted for “Battle of Five Armies,” before confirming in August 2012 that “The Desolation of Smaug” and “There and Back Again” would be the titles of the last two movies.
The new film opens in just eight months, so a name seems unlikely and fans are murmering that the new domain/trademark may be tied to a video game project.
The Independent notes “The new title would be a nod to the book chapter, “Out of The Frying Pan, Into the Fire”, but “There and Back Again” is part of the original novel’s title and would arguably make more sense for the storyline.”
Of course, this was a line uttered in the second film.
Directed by Peter Jackson and co-starring Martin Freeman, Ian McKellen and Richard Armitage, “The Hobbit: There And Back Again” will now open in theaters on December 17, 2014.
UPDATE: The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies will arrive in theaters on December 17, 2014.
