48 FPS Hobbit Starts Out As Limited Run

Peter Jackson's 48 frames-per-second experiment with "The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey" is NOT going to play in as many theaters as first thought reports Variety.

The studio is only going to be screening the high frame rate version in select locations, perhaps not even in all major cities.

The finished footage picture quality reportedly looks vastly better than the not well-received test footage shown in April at CinemaCon.

Starting out with just a limited release for the HFR version in order to test audience enthusiasm and reaction to the presentation is the right move  Should it go well, expect the 48FPS version will expand much wider.

Right now there are still no theaters ready for HFR projection, though some require only a software upgrade that will occur in September. One thing you won't see is 4K 3D 48FPS versions of the film--no projection equipment can handle that much data yet.

The prequel sees Bilbo (Martin Freeman) travel on his journey with dwarves Thorin Oakshield (Richard Armitage) Bofur (Stephen Hunter), Bombur (James Nesbitt), and Bifur (William Kircher). Oin and Gloin (John Callen and Peter Hambleton) Jed Brophy as Nori, Adam Brown as Ori Mark Hadlow as Dori Balin (Ken Stott) and Dwalin (Graham McTavish)

Stephen Fry, Ryan Gage Benedict Cumberbatch Luke Evans Conan Stevens Cate Blanchett, Hugo Weaving Dean O'Gorman, Elijah Wood, Ian Holm, David Tennant, Barry Humphries., Lee Pace Bret McKenzie Orlando Bloom Billy Connolly Ian McKellen, former "Lost" actress Evangeline Lilly and Christopher Lee also star.

For now Journey will bow on December 14th 2012 while The Hobbit: There and Back Again reaches cinemas on December 13th 2013 with a just announed plan for the story to expand as a trilogy.