NZ Hobbit fans 'gutted' at London premiere

A group of hardcore Hobbit fans are "gutted" and "shocked" Wellington has missed out on hosting the world premiere of the third and final movie.

Members of the Kiwi Facebook group called Bring the 2014 World Premiere of The Hobbit to Wellington New Zealand have expressed sadness over Thursday's announcement that The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies will premiere in London, despite their efforts to have it in Wellywood.

"I am so disappointed... New Zealand has done everything for the production of the movies, and they hold the premiere in London... That is... so sad and unfair," user Svante Tudvad Pavon posted on the community page.

"Gutted!!!!" commented another user, Julie Thompson.

While Joyce Wong, wrote: "I'm genuinely shocked it isn't being held in New Zealand! You would think the home of Middle Earth should host such an event."

The Facebook page is linked to an online petition entitled There and Back Again: A Wellington Premiere.

With 391 signatures since January, it includes a pleading open letter to Warner Bros declaring that "the trilogy started in Wellington and it is only fitting to finish in Wellington".

Hobbit stars Martin Freeman, Ian McKellen, Orlando Bloom, Richard Armitage and Luke Evans announced via video on Thursday that the Peter Jackson-directed trilogy's final instalment will premiere in London's Leicester Square on December 1.

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Kiwi fans will be able to watch the premiere online through a live stream.

It's the second year in a row Wellington has been overlooked, with 2013's The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug being unveiled in a star-studded premiere at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles.

* The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies is due to be released in New Zealand on December 11.

- AAP