Smaug, the dastardly dragon from "The Hobbit" movies, is catching some serious air time as decor on an Air New Zealand plane. The decorated Boeing B777-300 is a flying publicity stunt to promote the opening of "The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug."
The plane won't actually breathe fire or eat fantastical creatures, but it is an impressive sight. The 242-foot-long aircraft might give us a hint as to how big director Peter Jackson's version of the dragon is supposed to be. Compare that with the known 40-foot length of a Tyrannosaurus rex dinosaur and I think we all know who the true "tyrant lizard" is.
Lucky passengers will get to enter the plane through Smaug's scaly brown neck and travel in the belly of the beast with no danger of getting caught up in fantasy-creature digestive juices. Hopefully, they will be served breakfast, second breakfast, elevenses, luncheon, afternoon tea, dinner, and supper while onboard.
Air New Zealand has been promoting itself as "The airline of Middle-earth." The company created "Hobbit"-themed plane liveries and videos featuring character types from the Tolkien stories. The dragon-plane was unveiled in time to fly from New Zealand to Los Angeles for the movie premiere.
This airplane version of Smaug is the first chance many fans have gotten to see the entirety of the monster, which was mostly teased in the first film. Does that make it flying spoilers?
(Via Hollywood Reporter)