'The Hobbit' trailer provides a glimpse into a new Middle-Earth journey (VIDEO)

'The Hobbit' trailer gives a preview of memorable moments like Bilbo Baggins meeting Gollum, shows familiar faces from the original trilogy.

It’s been a tumultuous trek for The Hobbit over the past two years. The project was slowly but steadily coming together under the guiding hand of Guillermo del Toro – that is until MGM’s financial blues forced the filmmaker off the project in 2010. Even after Lord of the Rings helmer Peter Jackson finally stepped in to take del Toro’s spot, union issues, funding concerns, and health problems threatened to derail the cinematic return to J.R.R. Tolkien’s Middle-Earth.

Fortunately, those problems were all eventually resolved and the majority of production on The Hobbit has now been complete – enough so as to allow for the release of an actual teaser trailer for the Rings trilogy semi-prequel.

For those who’ve never read Tolkien’s source material, here is an official synopsis for Jackson’s film(s):

Tantalizing glimpses of 'The Hobbit' in 3-D

“The Hobbit” follows the journey of title character Bilbo Baggins (Martin Freeman), who is swept into an epic quest to reclaim the lost Dwarf Kingdom of Erebor, which was long ago conquered by the dragon Smaug. Approached out of the blue by the wizard Gandalf the Grey (Ian McKellen), Bilbo finds himself joining a company of thirteen dwarves led by the legendary warrior, Thorin Oakenshield (Richard Armitage). Their journey will take them into the Wild; through treacherous lands swarming with Goblins and Orcs, deadly Wargs and Giant Spiders, Shapeshifters and Sorcerers.

Now check out the official Hobbit teaser trailer and poster below:

There’s a pleasantly welcoming and enchanting air to this trailer, which teases yet another imaginative adventure through Middle-Earth. Not only do new characters like Thorin Oakenshield and his fellow dwarfs look like fun (not to mention, possess excellent singing voices), it’s also all the more enjoyable to see familiar faces like that of Gandalf and Lady Galadriel (Cate Blanchett) – not to mention, objects such as the shattered remains of Narsil and Bilbo’s trusty blade, Sting. Plus, the brief glance at the famous encounter between Bilbo and Gollum (Andy Serkis) near the end is enough to send shivers down your spine.

We’re sure we speak for many Lord of the Rings fans when we say: It’s good to be back on Middle-Earth.

The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey arrives in 2D and 3D theaters around the U.S. on December 14th, 2012.

The Hobbit: There and Back Again is scheduled to hit U.S. theaters a year later on December 13th, 2013.

Sandy Schaefer blogs at Screen Rant.