Director Peter Jackson brings last ‘Hobbit’ film to China

Director Peter Jackson, left, points at a red stamp with the Chinese words for "Peter the Great" on Chinese calligraphy with the words for "The Hobbit, The Battle of the Five Armies" as actor Richard Armitage looks on during a press conference held in Beijing, Monday, Jan. 19, 2015. (AP Photo/Ng Han Guan) Director Peter Jackson, left, points at a red stamp with the Chinese words for "Peter the Great" on Chinese calligraphy with the words for "The Hobbit, The Battle of the Five Armies" as actor Richard Armitage looks on during a press conference held in Beijing, Monday, Jan. 19, 2015. (AP Photo/Ng Han Guan)

By Associated Press January 20, 2015 1 min read

BEIJING (AP) – Director Peter Jackson and actor Richard Armitage are attending a red-carpet premiere in China of the final “Hobbit” film.

Jackson said at the event in Beijing on Tuesday that he has been having a hard time getting used to the nickname “Peter the Great” affectionately given to him by Chinese fans.

“The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies” ends Jackson’s massively successful six-film franchise that started with the 2001 release of “The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring.”

The final film from J.R.R. Tolkien’s “The Hobbit” fantasy novel has earned more than $800 million in the U.S. and worldwide since it opened in December. It will be released in China on Friday.