A new poster for The Hobbit’s forthcoming installment entitled ‘An Unexpected Journey’ has been revealed for San Diego’s Comic Con. The image was released by director Peter Jackson with a message for eager fans. “We made it! Shoot day 266 and the end of principal photography on The Hobbit. Thanks to our fantastic cast and crew for getting us this far, and to all of you for your support! Next stop, the cutting room. Oh, and Comic Con!”

The panel for ‘The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey’ will take place at the annual event this coming July 14th. The movie will finally open in theaters this coming December 14th with a cast line-up of Martin Freeman, Elijah Wood, Billy Connolly, Cate Blanchett, Orlando Bloom, Luke Evans, and Hugo Weaving. One year later Journey’s follow up, The Hobbit: There and Back Again’, will debut on December 13, 2013. Get a closer look at the poster that shows Gandalf the Grey as he makes his way through the Hobbits’ Shire and check out the full synopsis below per IMDb.

“Bilbo Baggins is swept into a quest to reclaim the lost Dwarf Kingdom of Erebor from the fearsome dragon Smaug. Approached out of the blue by the wizard Gandalf the Grey, Bilbo finds himself joining a company of thirteen dwarves led by the legendary warrior, Thorin Oakenshield. Their journey will take them into the Wild; through treacherous lands swarming with Goblins and Orcs, deadly Wargs and Giant Spiders, Shapeshifters and Sorcerers. Although their goal lies to the East and the wastelands of the Lonely Mountain first they must escape the goblin tunnels, where Bilbo meets the creature that will change his life forever … Gollum. Here, alone with Gollum, on the shores of an underground lake, the unassuming Bilbo Baggins not only discovers depths of guile and courage that surprise even him, he also gains possession of Gollum’s “precious” ring that holds unexpected and useful qualities … A simple, gold ring that is tied to the fate of all Middle-earth in ways Bilbo cannot begin to know.”