It was only a matter of time before we found out details about the extended Blu-Ray edition of ‘The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey‘. Peter Jackson made an extended edition of each of the ‘Lord of the Rings’ movies so we knew it was coming. What we didn’t know was how much was going to be added into the film and how many (and what type) of extras we’d be getting.

Until now.

It looks as if on November 5th in the US, November 4th in the UK and a world-wide date of October 22nd (most likely for digital), we’ll all be able to buy the extended edition to get an entire 13 minutes edited and scored into the film.

Wait. What? We’re only getting 13 more minutes in the Extended Edition? Here’s what Peter Jackson had to say about this edition of the film.

I’m thrilled that the Extended Edition will give fans the opportunity to experience certain key scenes in the film as they were originally shot, as well as an abundance of special features. It’s exciting to present this expanded and enriched version of An Unexpected Journey to allow fans to fully immerse themselves in the movie, before seeing the second part of the trilogy.

So if we’re not going to be getting a longer film what exactly are we getting?

Well we know that the breakdown of discs and pricing works out as follows:

    • 5-disc Blu-ray 3D set ($54.98) (includes a non-3D Blu-ray version)
    • 3-disc Blu-ray ($35.99)
    • 5-disc DVD ($34.99)

How is 13 minutes adding 2 extra Blu-ray discs and 4 extra DVD’s?

Well the same team behind ‘The Lord of the Rings’ Extended Editions are doing these and you’ll be getting nearly nine hours of content added in. This will include features ranging from audio commentary with Peter Jackson and Philippa Boyens and ‘The Appendices’ which is a documentary on both the film and the trilogy. It will of course also include a multitude of information on the creation of the sets, costumes, training of the actors, etc. Anyone who had enjoyed all of the making of ‘The Lord of the Rings’ content will be happy to see an updated version of it for ‘The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey’.

To give you an example of some of the extra goodies that will be included in ‘The Hobbit’ set, here’s a deleted scene that will be part of the package:

The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey is the first in Peter Jackson’s highly anticipated trilogy adapting the enduringly popular masterpiece The Hobbit, by J.R.R. Tolkien.

The adventure follows the journey of title character Bilbo Baggins, who is swept into an epic quest to reclaim the lost Dwarf Kingdom of Erebor from the fearsome Dragon Smaug. Approached out of the blue by the Wizard Gandalf the Grey, Bilbo finds himself joining a company of 13 Dwarves led by the legendary warrior, Thorin Oakenshield. Their journey will take them into the Wild, through treacherous lands swarming with Goblins, Orcs and deadly Wargs, as well as a mysterious and sinister figure known only as the Necromancer.

Although their goal lies to the East and the wastelands of the Lonely Mountain, first they must escape the Goblin tunnels, where Bilbo meets the creature that will change his life forever…Gollum.

Here, alone with Gollum, on the shores of an underground lake, the unassuming Bilbo Baggins not only discovers depths of ingenuity and courage that surprise even him; he also gains possession of Gollum’s “precious” ring that holds unexpected and useful qualities…A simple, gold ring that is tied to the fate of all Middle-earth in ways Bilbo cannot begin to know.

Will ‘The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey’ disc set be on your list for an early holiday present?

Source: The One Ring.