Peter Jackson has also revealed the running time of the first film: 2 hours and 40 minutes.

According to Empire, Colbert recently visited the Hobbit set in New Zealand:

I flew out and watched them shoot some scenes and went to some locations. I saw a 25-minute cut, and it was amazing. [Peter] Jackson knows I'm a big fan of the films.

Asked if he would be making a cameo, Colbert replied coyly: "Could be."

Peter Jackson's return to Middle Earth stars Martin Freeman, Ian McKellen, James Nesbitt, Stephen Hunter, Mark Hadlow, Graham McTavish, Dean Ogorman, Peter Hambleton, Aidan Turner, Jed Brophy, John Callen, Adam Brown, Ken Stott, William Kircher, Andy Serkis, and Richard Armitage.

In theaters in 3D December 14.