Jackson races to finish final cut of Hobbit

Peter Jackson has finished his final cut of The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey, just days out from the film's premiere in Wellington.

Jackson's spokesman Matt Dravitzki said the director had approved the final version of the film yesterday, to the relief of its sleep-deprived post-production crew.

"There has definitely been some tired people getting some much-needed sleep. And there was a few celebratory drinks, with some bubbles."

The film has been a long time in the making, with Sir Peter only starting filming in Wellington in March after a fraught five-year build up which included an industrial dispute and a legal battle between the director and producers New Line Cinemas.

However, Jackson has no time to take a break.

He is due to front a three-day media blitz ahead of The Hobbit's premiere, before heading to Japan on a promotional tour.

After that he would be straight back to work cutting the other two movies in The Hobbit trilogy, Dravitzki said.

The Hobbit was finished a day before the director predicted in his most recent behind-the-scenes video diary detailing post-production work on the film.

In the video, a slightly worn-looking Jackson said the film was only expected to be finished today - two days before its premiere at Wellington's Embassy Theatre.

"It's due to be finished literally two days before the premiere - hopefully.

"You're going to see a lot of sleep deprived people in this blog. Everyone's working around the clock to get the film finished."

Jackson also showed himself in the final stages of cutting the film together with editor Jabez Olssen.

The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey will open on November 28.

It is due to be released in cinemas on December 14, with the second film, The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug released December 13 next year and the third film, The Hobbit: There and Back Again released on July 18, 2014.