THR is reporting that the rumors are true about Comedy Central 'pundit' Stephen Colbert appearing in a cameo in The Hobbit. Unfortunately, Colbert won't be appearing in the upcoming The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey, but one of the other films in the series that will be released later. Colbert is a known fanatic of Tolkein's works and teased the cameo in an interview with Playboy earlier this month.

We've also got a photo for one of the prime antagonists of the upcoming films from Tolkiendrim.com (via TheOneRing.net). Below, you'll see the first photos of Bolg, played by Conan Stevens, who is the leader of the Misty Mountains' goblins.

The film follows the titular hobbit, Bilbo Baggins, 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, Bilbo finds himself joining a company of thirteen dwarves led by the legendary warrior Thorin Oakenshield. Their journey will take them into the Wild; through treacherous lands swarming with Goblins and Orcs, deadly Wargs and Giant Spiders, Shapeshifters and Sorcerers. 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 guile 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.

Ian McKellen, Martin Freeman, Cate Blanchett, Orlando Bloom, Ian Holm, Christopher Lee, Hugo Weaving, Elijah Wood, Evangeline Lilly, Andy Serkis and many, many more star in the December 14 release.



(Stephen Colbert Photo Credit: PNP/WENN)