It's not out of the question to see a movie release date shift, but it's rare for film officials to change its name.
Director Peter Jackson announced on his Facebook page Thursday that the third installment of the "Lord of The Rings" prequel trilogy "The Hobbit" is getting a name change just eight months before its debut .
According to The Hollywood Reporter, the film previously titled "There and Back Again," will now be "The Battle of the Five Armies."
The Oscar-winning director said the title was better suited for a film that wrapped up a two-part story instead of a trilogy. Jackson, who directed both sets of trilogies, compared making the film to the hobbit's journey itself.
"Our journey to make The Hobbit Trilogy has been in some ways like Bilbo's own, with hidden paths revealing their secrets to us as we've gone along," Jackson wrote. "'There and Back Again' felt like the right name for the second part of two films telling of the quest to reclaim Erebor, when Bilbo's arrival there, and departure, were both contained within the second film. But with three movies, it suddenly felt misplaced--after all, Bilbo has already arrived 'there' in the 'Desolation of Smaug.'"
Jackson said he mentioned the title change to executives after the premiere trip last year. Producers agreed to keep an open mind until there was a cut of the film to watch.
"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 added. "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. And so: 'The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies' it is."
He noted the possibility of the title "There and Back Again" could being used "on a future box-set of all three movies." The famed director also told fans that he was finishing working on "The Desolation of Smaug Extended Cut," which will include over 25 minutes of new scenes.
"The Hobbit: Battle of the Five Armies" will open in theaters on Dec. 17. The movie features the return of Martin Freeman, Richard Armitage, Orlando Bloom, Evangeline Lilly and Ian McKellen, along with the voice of Benedict Cumberbatch as the dragon Smaug.
So, Tolkien fans, how do you feel about the unexpected name change?
