Following the recent success of its opening film An Unexpected Journey, The Hobbit franchise looks like it will remain a Christmas fixture for its fans after news was confirmed that the final film of the prequel trilogy, There and Back Again, would be released in December 2014.

Originally the plans for the concluding installment of the epic series was that it would be given a cinematic release in July of the same year. However its studio, Warner Bros, has revealed that it will now be shown on December 17th.

While it may come as frustrating news for the loyal supporters of the franchise, it does at least continue the tradition of having a Lord of the Rings film on around Christmas time.

In the meantime, the middle film of the trilogy, The Desolation of Smaug will be out later this year on December 13th.