Ringer Thorin tells us that in Italy a retailer accidentally released the first artbook for “The Battle of the Five Armies” around a month before the official release date.
It’s been taken off the shelves now, but in the meantime a few keen ringers were able to get their hands on copies — and it is chock-full of big spoilers.
We’re not kidding: If you’d rather not know in advance some of the big things that are going to occur, you won’t want to read below!
SPOILER SPACE
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LAST CHANCE!!
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END SPOILER SPACE
Here be spoilers!
1. Tauriel doesn’t die as has been extensively rumoured.
2. Kili will sacrifice himself to protect Tauriel from Bolg.
3. Bolg will be impaled by Legolas. Legolas hurls his sword at Bolg, pinning him on a wall at Ravenhill.
4. Fili gets beheaded by Azog and then his corpse is thrown at Thorin’s feet, enraging Thorin. [Update: no beheading in the theatrical edition]
5. Azog is killed by Thorin but Thorin is badly wounded in return. He’s saved by Beorn. (So yeah, there is no Beorn/Bolg fight.) [Update: Beorn’s role in the TE is small and he does not save Thorin.]
6. Galadriel confronts Sauron using the power of her ring Nenya: the fight is so powerful that Dol Goldur collapses. [Update: DG doesn’t collapse.]
7. Giant worms dig tunnels on the battlefield that allow orcs to swarm everywhere.
8. The Auction of Bilbo’s goods will be featured.
9. The Master flees from Lake-town in his boat.
10. Rumours of Radagast dying in Dol Goldur aren’t true. He will live.
11. Gandalf will look through a Palantir and he will see what would happen if Smaug won’t be killed. Sauron reveals his plot to join forces with Smaug. [Update: not in the theatrical edition]
12. Bard kills Smaug, but won’t be using the windlance… this is destroyed as soon as Smaug attacks. Instead he launches the black arrow using one of the limbs of the bow of the windlance while balancing it on his son’s shoulders.
Addendum: Insider sources tell us that a couple of the above are not entirely on the mark. Specifically, the Palantir isn’t used, nor does Beorn come to Thorin. Beorn’s role is, in fact, very brief.
We suspect that this material could have been cut along the way, since publishing schedules would necessitate the finalisation of the Chronicles book before the final cut of the film took shape. So, perhaps these scenes are headed for the BOTFA EE next year?
Join us in Los Angeles in February at The One Last Party
We’re hosting a Party of Special Magnificence next February — a final toast to all SIX movies, both The Lord of the Rings trilogy and The Hobbit trilogy.
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