Ahead of the premiere next week of The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug, director Peter Jackson has released the 13th production diary for his epic adaptation of J.R.R. Tolkien's beloved fantasy novel.

The eight-video reveals Hobbit-versus-Dwarf table tennis, behind-the-scenes footage of Martin Freeman acting against nothing, and even bits with Benedict Cumberbatch and Stephen Fry.

While Smaug isn't glimpsed, by this point you've probably already seen the scaly dragon on the side of Air New Zealand planes. Also, does anyone else want to see a regular web series of people dressed as Middle-earthers playing ping-pong?

The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug opens on Dec. 13.

Post by Peter Jackson.