It's called "The Most Epic Safety Video Ever Made," and for once the word "epic" isn't being misused.
Air New Zealand's new in-flight safety video was created with help from some of the team behind the "Hobbit" film trilogy, and even includes a few appearances from members of the cast and crew.
Sylvester McCoy (a former Dr. Who who plays Radagast the Brown), Dean O'Gorman (the dwarf Fili) and Elijah Wood (Frodo in the "Lord of the Rings" trilogy, who has a few brief appearances in "The Hobbit" films) all help explain airline safety in just about the most epic way possible.
There's an orc, a giant eagle, a wizard, elves, dwarves, a battle scene and an appearance by Peter Jackson, director of both "The Hobbit" and "Lord of the Rings" trilogies. Much of the video also unfolds over the Middle Earth locations seen in the films.
Variety reports that Weta Workshop provided the costumes, makeup and prosthetics, while Weta Digital did the visual effects. Both companies created the effects for the "Hobbit" films.
The safety video was directed by New Zealand filmmaker Taika Waititi.
Like "The Hobbit" films, the epic safety video is part of a trilogy of its own. In 2012, before the first "Hobbit" movie reached theaters, the airline released a not-quite-as-epic air safety video featuring members of the cast. And last year, the airline unveiled a clip called "Just another day in Middle Earth," which was tied to the second film.
The final film in the big-screen trilogy, "The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies," hits theaters on Dec. 17.
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