So, yes, Peter Jackson and company have decided to extend their two-night Hobbit tour into an extra evening. Feel cynical about it or feel elated to have another trip into Middle-Earth, but know that it is coming with furious vengeance. According to Aint It Cool, the second second film in the newly minted trilogy will be called The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug. It should be due out December of 2013.

The third film, There and Back Again - which was the first second film (for those keeping score) – will be out July, 2014.

From the general darkness and devastation of the title, and the fact that this is Jackson’s second big opportunity with a fantasy trilogy of this type, it’s easy to speculate that he’ll bring down the fire, leaving the second film on the brink of the big gloom. That’s pure speculation, but wouldn’t it be awesome if he went full dark, Empire style? Hopefully he’ll keep the Ewoks away from the final installment, though.