Welcome back for another edition of News Bits.  What is it you ask?  The film world can get quite overwhelming at times in the news that releases.  Unfortunately some of this news is just too small to warrant a full article. Rather than deprive you of the news, we've created this section.  This week in news bits we’ve got posters, pics, dates, and so much more!

Andy Serkis mentioned it a couple months ago, Elijah Wood seemed to confirm it, and now it's finally here.  The first trailer for The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey (which will be attached to Adventures of Tintin) has finally been released for everyone to see.

Warner Bros is partnering with TheMoviePool in order to help celebrate the recent release of The Lord of the Rings Extended films on Blu-Ray, by offering for the first time, the extended editions available for download on iTunes.

Hot on the heels of the announcement that The Hobbit has begun filming, Middle-Earth fanboys have even more to be excited about.  Warner Bros. has announced via Press Release the official date for the Lord of the Rings Extended Edition blu-rays...and even gave the full details on the bonus features.

Praise be!  At long last, fans of the Peter Jackson's Extended Edition cuts of the Lord of the Rings trilogy can rejoice, for details on the blu-ray set have been announced, and are available for pre-order from Amazon.

Several websites, including The Internet Movie Database, are reporting that British actor David Tennant is being considered for the role of Elf King Thranduil in Peter Jackson's Lord of the Rings prequel The Hobbit. Tennant should be familiar to sci-fi fans as the most recent Dr. Who in the long-running BBC series. He also appeared in Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire.

Due to the recent release of the latest, and in my opinion greatest, Harry Potter film we thought it was only fitting for our next match to have two great wizards face off.  Therefore, this round will contain Harry Potter’s magical mentor Dumbledore and the Baggins’ confidante Gandalf.  Both are masters of their craft, and would make formidable foes in a “no holds barred” feud.

Peter Jackson has just announced the cast of The Hobbit and, although the greenlight was certainly a sign that The Hobbit would, in fact, get made, this is like icing on the cake.  And as a way for making up for the recent shooting location incident, it’s a pretty good gift. Check out the list of actors set to star in The Hobbit after the jump.

Ian McKellen has confirmed the start date for filming on the highly anticipated Lord of the Rings prequel, The Hobbit.