New Line is apparently mulling over a name change for the third film in the Hobbit series, with the next instalment possibly becoming The Hobbit: Into The Fire .
The film is currently titled The Hobbit: There And Back Again , but according to TheOneRing.net , New Line has just had the alternative title officially registered.
As for the significance of the new moniker, it refers to a chapter title in Tolkien's original novel, and is also spoken in the film, in the context of "out of the frying pan"…
Of course, it's possible that New Line has registered the new title for some other purpose, such as a videogame release, but it would seem to fit the final film quite nicely.
We should find out for sure in the coming months, with cast and crew heading to Comic-Con this July. The film will open in the UK on 12 December 2014.
