Warner Bros. Pictures and Fathom Events are collaborating to bring the Extended Editions of all three "The Hobbit" films this October. The event will run for three nights in select theaters nationwide. Following the release in theaters, the digital editions of the films will be launched on Oct. 20 and will be available on DVD and Blu-Ray come Nov. 17.
"The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey Extended Edition" will be shown on Oct. 5 and will feature a special introduction by director Peter Jackson. "The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug Extended Edition" will be shown on Oct. 7, while "The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies Extended Edition" will be shown on Oct. 13.
Unfortunately, a one-time purchase pass for all three films is not available as tickets will have to be bought individually. However, tickets are kept at regular admission prices, so fans won't have to spend extra cash just to see their favorite film in its extended cut.
Each Extended Edition adds roughly twenty minutes to each film, giving fans additional scenes that further flourish the story and plot. Many films tend to cut down on a film's run time in order to squeeze in more available viewings in theaters, but extended editions or director's cuts are often watched via home media and can be made longer.
Apart from additional scenes, the third film, "The Battle of the Five Armies Extended Edition," has also received an R-Rating from its previous PG-13 rating. This is mostly speculated to be due to added violence and gore in the film's final setpiece which is a large-scale war involving dwarves, elves, men, orcs and wargs.
The home release of the Extended Editions also come with over nine hours of extras, including voice-over commentaries from Jackson and a "making of" documentary, showcasing how the films were made. The DVD set will reportedly cost $79 while the Blu-Ray set will cost $100.
