The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug is making its American debut tonight and Tolkien fans can watch all the excitement live online.

The second part of Bilbo Baggins' (Martin Freeman) journey is set to hit the big screen on Dec. 13. Based off of JRR Tolkien's iconic prelude to the Lord of the Rings series, The Hobbit follows the adventures of Bilbo, Gandalf (Ian McKellen), and Thorin Oakenshield's (Richard Armitage) company of dwarves as they attempt to reclaim their Lonely Mountain home from the claws of the dragon Smaug.

Set against a backdrop of stunning New Zealand scenery, The Desolation of Smaug brings in an all-star cast to help put Middle Earth on the map. Orlando Bloom (Legolas) and Hugo Weaving (Elrond) make a return from their Lord of the Rings days while Benedict Cumberbatch, Evangeline Lilly, Cate Blanchett, Lee Pace, Sylvester McCoy, and Aidan Turner all make an appearance.

As Bilbo gears up for the 'burglar' part of the quest, Thorin, the group's gruff leader, strays from the path of selflessness as he struggles to take back is ancestral home. While fans laugh at the dwarves antics, particularly the comical yet efficient brothers Fili (Dean O'Gorman) ad Kili (Aidan Turner), director Peter Jackson is sure to awe when the dragon Smaug (Benedict Cumberbatch) is finally unveiled.

Click here to watch the red carpet festivities as the film's actors head to Hollywood's Dolby Theater.

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