The release date for the third and final installment of 'The Hobbit' film series is approaching, and it seems that the production team of the movie wants to increase the eagerness of the fans by releasing a new poster.

The new 'The Hobbit: The Battle of Five Armies' poster, which is uploaded on the official Facebook page of the movie, shows the dragon Smaug flying over Lake town. With the caption "I am fire. I am DEATH," the poster also shows the towns' housed engulfed by flames.

The dragon was accidentally awakened in the second movie of the franchise, but the protagonists failed to kill it. Smaug, who was not killed despite being smothered with molten gold, was flying toward Lake town at the end of 'Hobbit 2'.

Meanwhile, the upcoming 'Hobbit' movie is said to be darkest film among the trilogy.

The movie's director Peter Jackson said during the San Diego Comic Con that the upcoming 'Hobbit' movie is poised to bridge the gap between the relatively nonviolent Middle-earth depicted in the first film to that of the dark theme of the 'Lord of the Rings' movies.

The director's statement was somehow reflected in the trailer for 'The Hobbit 3: Battle of Five Armies'.

The trailer shows Bilbo Baggins talking about an upcoming war. Elven and Orcs are shown forming armies, gathering for the battlefield and preparing for war, while the dragon Smaug is also shown breathing fire.

The upcoming third installment to the hit fantasy movie franchise will show an epic battle among the dwarves, men, elves and orcs. The battle promises an impending doom, but reports say only one thing is for certain- Bilbo Baggins will survive to tell the story.

'The Hobbit 3: Battle of Five Armies' will hit theaters on Dec. 17, 2014.