After two years and three box office-slaying movies, "The Hobbit" franchise has breathed its last.
The first two films in director Peter Jackson's epic fantasy trilogy have taken nearly two billion US dollars at the worldwide box office, with the concluding installment, "The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies," likely to push total takings over three billion.
Although principal photography on "The Hobbit" was completed in New Zealand way back in June 2013, cast and crew are still coming to terms with life away from Middle Earth.
Actor Orlando Bloom returns again as the elf Legolas in the movie.
(sb1, Orlando Bloom, Male English)
"You kind of become part of a family when you're there you know. New Zealand to me, Wellington, it sort of really feels like Shire-like, going over to Pete's house for dinner and to talk about the script."
Fellow elf Evangeline Lilly says she will miss the collaborative spirit of the team.
(sb2, Evangeline Lilly, Female English)
"They're so collaborative. I think the collaboration I might miss more than anything. You feel like co-creators in the project you're working on which is not a luxury offered all the time to actors in films - I think contrary to a lot of people's perception. And that's such a gift that they give us. It makes you feel real ownership and passion towards the project."
British actor Martin Freeman, who plays Bilbo Baggins, is less sentimental about his time on set.
(sb3, Martin Freeman, Male English)
"I won't miss anything. I thoroughly enjoyed it. I really loved doing it. But like with all things I love doing, I want to do something else now and if I miss it I'll just remember it."
Freeman is not alone in wanting to move on. Evangeline Lilly says there are some things that she won't miss about The Hobbit.
(sb4, Evangeline Lily, Female English)
"I would happily wear the hair and ears anytime because I loved them. But that breast plate that I wore would pinch a nerve back in my shoulder and neck and, by the end, well, by half way through the day my whole left leg would be numb and I would be in excruciating pain so I won't miss that."
Thirty-seven-year-old Orlando Bloom first entered Middle Earth in 2001 for the first movie in "The Lord of the Rings" trilogy. Even though his costume can sometimes be uncomfortable, it didn't stop him from having fun on set.
(sb5, Orlando Bloom, Male English)
"My rig, my quiver rig was, they adapted it so many times, like on 'Rings' it was crazy. It was the most awkward and uncomfortable thing to wear and on this movie they had like this little jacket which was sort of super tight and would sort of hold me in place so that the rig would be on my back and attached to the jacket under my costumes. So they'd really thought about it, but even still it was tight and kind of like heavy and sort...it just never... but I love it, I absolutely love it, but…"
(movie clip)
"The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies," is set to debut on December 12 in UK cinemas and December 17 in US cinemas.
For Studio+, I'm Xufei.