Of all the many promotional partners lined up to market the second Hobbit film, The Desolation Of Smau****g, US restaurant chain Denny’s always seemed like a weird one - although we suppose they do sell second breakfasts. Still, it promises wide exposure and in addition to Hobbit-themed menus (honest), it has also been handed some exclusive featurette footage. So here’s a piece about Beorn’s home.
Beorn, for those who have recently been clubbed by a dwarf and are unaware, is a “skinchanger”, a shape shifter who interacts with Gandalf and co on their quest in the film. Played by Mikael Persbrandt, he is, as Ian McKellen describes him, "A man who is sometimes a bear, and a bear who is sometimes a man,” so he naturally needs an unusually large dwelling. That means some creative filmmaking as usual from the production team.
In this featurette, Peter Jackson and some of his cast and crew talk about the experience of shooting in it, and there’s even a little behind-the-scenes footage, including Martin Freeman giving one of the most surreal Little Britain shout-outs you’ll see.
The Hobbit: The Desolation Of Smaug is out in cinemas on December 13. And you can read more about the movie in t_he latest **Empire_, which can be found lurking in good and evil shops and in digital editions.