Gearing up for the December 2014 release of “The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies”—the third in a trilogy of films adapting the enduringly popular masterpiece The Hobbit, by J.R.R. Tolkien—filmmakers Peter Jackson, Fran Walsh and Philippa Boyens announced recently that Billy Boyd will perform the film’s end title song, “The Last Goodbye,” which he co-wrote with the filmmakers.
In making the announcement, the filmmakers stated, “It is hard, after 16 years and six films, to know exactly how to say goodbye. We knew that we wanted to speak directly to all those who have taken this journey with us, especially to the fans whose love of these films has so often kept us going. This is why we asked Billy Boyd, who has been with us from the very beginning, and whose portrayal as Peregrin Took in ‘The Lord of The Rings’ films is so beloved, to help write and perform the final song in this trilogy. Billy is not just a wonderful actor but also an extremely accomplished singer/songwriter—we are so glad he agreed once again to share his talent with us.
“There is always something simple and truthful and heartfelt running through even the grandest of the tales of Professor Tolkien. As Thorin tells Bilbo at the end of The Hobbit, if the world valued song and cheer above gold it would be a merrier place. As much as ‘The Battle of the Five Armies’ is an epic story about war and sacrifice and loss, it is also a personal tale about the importance of friendship and family and home.
“‘The Last Goodbye,’ performed by Billy Boyd, is both a farewell to Middle-earth and it is also our leave-taking of the audience. We cannot imagine a more perfect voice to carry us away from the shores of Middle-earth…one last time.”
Billy Boyd reflects, “I wanted the song to be a goodbye to all the fans who have been part of this amazing journey and to the whole world of Tolkien as it has been told in the cinema for our generation. No one knows the world of Tolkien better than Peter, Fran and Philippa, and I feel incredibly touched and honored to be asked to write and perform this song, and to be at the start and end of these beautiful, historic stories. To once again work so closely with them has been one of the true honors of my working life.”
The soundtrack to “The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies,” featuring “The Last Goodbye” performed by Billy Boyd, is available now for preorder at Amazon.com
Opening across the Philippines on Dec. 12, 2014 in theaters and IMAX®, “The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies” is distributed by Warner Bros. Pictures, a Warner Bros. Entertainment Company.