In elf ears and wizard hats, Hobbit fans rejoice
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Fans crowd along the red carpet of the world premiere of The Hobbit - An Unexpected Journey in Wellington on Nov 28, 2012. -- PHOTO: REUTERS
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Fans hold up a placard with an image of the character Gollum during the world premiere of The Hobbit movie in Courtenay Place in Wellington on Nov 28, 2012. Huge crowds swarmed into central Wellington on Nov 28 for the world premiere of Peter Jackson's The Hobbit, an event that has sparked Middle Earth mania in New Zealand. -- PHOTO: AFP
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Hobbit fans in costume attend the world premiere of The Hobbit - An Unexpected Journey in Wellington on Nov 28, 2012. -- PHOTO: REUTERS
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Actor Richard Armitage (centre left) walks onto the stage and is greeted by director Peter Jackson at the world premiere of The Hobbit movie in Courtenay Place in Wellington on Nov 28, 2012. Huge crowds swarmed into central Wellington on Nov 28 for the world premiere of Peter Jackson's The Hobbit, an event that has sparked Middle Earth mania in New Zealand. -- PHOTO: AFP
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Actors James Nesbitt (right), who plays the character Bofur, and Hugo Weaving, who plays the character Elrond, pose on the red carpet at the world premier of The Hobbit - An Unexpected Journey in Wellington on Nov 28, 2012. -- PHOTO: REUTERS
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New Zealand's Prime Minister John Key makes an address at the world premiere of The Hobbit - An Unexpected Journey in Wellington on Nov 28, 2012. -- PHOTO: REUTERS
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Actor Hugo Weaving, who plays the character Elrond, poses on the red carpet at the world premiere of The Hobbit - An Unexpected Journey in Wellington on Nov 28, 2012. -- PHOTO: REUTERS
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New Zealand director Peter Jackson emerges from a 'Hobbit Hole' to make an address at the world premiere of The Hobbit - An Unexpected Journey in Wellington on Nov 28, 2012. -- PHOTO: REUTERS
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Australian actress Cate Blanchett poses on the red carpet at the world premiere of The Hobbit - An Unexpected Journey in Wellington on Nov 28, 2012. -- PHOTO: REUTERS
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Actress Evangeline Lilly, who plays the character Tauriel, poses on the red carpet at the world premiere of The Hobbit - An Unexpected Journey in Wellington on Nov 28, 2012. -- PHOTO: REUTERS
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British actor Richard Armitage, who plays Thorin the dwarf, poses on the red carpet at the world premiere of The Hobbit - An Unexpected Journey in Wellington on Nov 28, 2012. -- PHOTO: REUTERS
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British actor Sylvester McCoy, who plays the character Radagast, poses on the red carpet at the world premiere of The Hobbit - An Unexpected Journey in Wellington on Nov 28, 2012. -- PHOTO: REUTERS
Fans crowd along the red carpet of the world premiere of The Hobbit - An Unexpected Journey in Wellington on Nov 28, 2012. -- PHOTO: REUTERS
Fans hold up a placard with an image of the character Gollum during the world premiere of The Hobbit movie in Courtenay Place in Wellington on Nov 28, 2012. Huge crowds swarmed into central Wellington on Nov 28 for the world premiere of Peter Jackson's The Hobbit, an event that has sparked Middle Earth mania in New Zealand. -- PHOTO: AFP
Hobbit fans in costume attend the world premiere of The Hobbit - An Unexpected Journey in Wellington on Nov 28, 2012. -- PHOTO: REUTERS
Actor Richard Armitage (centre left) walks onto the stage and is greeted by director Peter Jackson at the world premiere of The Hobbit movie in Courtenay Place in Wellington on Nov 28, 2012. Huge crowds swarmed into central Wellington on Nov 28 for the world premiere of Peter Jackson's The Hobbit, an event that has sparked Middle Earth mania in New Zealand. -- PHOTO: AFP
Actors James Nesbitt (right), who plays the character Bofur, and Hugo Weaving, who plays the character Elrond, pose on the red carpet at the world premier of The Hobbit - An Unexpected Journey in Wellington on Nov 28, 2012. -- PHOTO: REUTERS
New Zealand's Prime Minister John Key makes an address at the world premiere of The Hobbit - An Unexpected Journey in Wellington on Nov 28, 2012. -- PHOTO: REUTERS
Actor Hugo Weaving, who plays the character Elrond, poses on the red carpet at the world premiere of The Hobbit - An Unexpected Journey in Wellington on Nov 28, 2012. -- PHOTO: REUTERS
New Zealand director Peter Jackson emerges from a 'Hobbit Hole' to make an address at the world premiere of The Hobbit - An Unexpected Journey in Wellington on Nov 28, 2012. -- PHOTO: REUTERS
Australian actress Cate Blanchett poses on the red carpet at the world premiere of The Hobbit - An Unexpected Journey in Wellington on Nov 28, 2012. -- PHOTO: REUTERS
Actress Evangeline Lilly, who plays the character Tauriel, poses on the red carpet at the world premiere of The Hobbit - An Unexpected Journey in Wellington on Nov 28, 2012. -- PHOTO: REUTERS
British actor Richard Armitage, who plays Thorin the dwarf, poses on the red carpet at the world premiere of The Hobbit - An Unexpected Journey in Wellington on Nov 28, 2012. -- PHOTO: REUTERS
British actor Sylvester McCoy, who plays the character Radagast, poses on the red carpet at the world premiere of The Hobbit - An Unexpected Journey in Wellington on Nov 28, 2012. -- PHOTO: REUTERS
WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) - Wearing elf ears and wizard hats, sitting atop their dad's shoulders or peering from balconies, tens of thousands of New Zealanders watched their favourite Hobbit actors walk the red carpet at the film trilogy's hometown premiere.
An Air New Zealand plane freshly painted with Hobbit characters flew low over Wellington's Embassy Theatre, eliciting roars of approval from the crowd.
Sam Rashidmardani, 12, said he came to see Gollum actor Andy Serkis walk the red carpet - and he wasn't disappointed.
"It was amazing," Rashidmardani said of the evening, adding his Gollum impression: "My precious."
