Peter Jackson explains how he's expanding The Hobbit: The Battle Of The Five Armies

In issue 225 of Total Film magazine , Peter Jackson tells us about closing out the Hobbit trilogy with The Hobbit: The Battle Of The Five Armies.

Inside the issue - which is available for just £1.99 on your iPad - Jackson explains how he's developing the story and expanding certain roles to ensure that the third Hobbit is suitably epic in scope.

"We're developing more story with the elves and with Gandalf," he reveals.

"We're developing the character of Bard the Bowman [ Luke Evans ]. We're able to expand what was there, bring in a little bit extra to the mythology and open it up a bit."

As for mixing character moments with action, he says: "What we're trying to do is have a lot of that conflict and resolution happen during the course of the battle, so it doesn't just become all action.

"There's still a plot with the characters to follow, even though they're surrounded by fighting trolls and orcs and things."

The Hobbit: The Battle Of The Five Armies opens in the UK on 12 December.

For more from Pitt, pick up the brand new issue of Total Film , which is out now . Headed up by our monstrous Winter Preview, it includes an exclusive look at Daniel Radcliffe's dark fantasy Horns , Fury, The Judge , Horrible Bosses 2 and many more exciting new movies.

You also get TWO FREE STAR WARS ART CARDS with the issue (check them out below). And be sure to also pick up the next issue of SFX magazine , which includes TWO MORE exclusive Star Wars art cards.

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