For that past ten days, character photos have been released of the dwarves who will be the companions to Bilbo Baggins in part one of Peter Jackson‘s Hobbit films. We’ve seen Nori, Ori, and Dori; Oin and Gloin; Fili and Kili; Bofur, Bombur & Bifur; and Balin and Dwalin. But, of course, we’ve all been waiting to see the head honcho himself, Thorin Oakenshield.

Well, today, we finally get that first look at Richard Armitage as the dwarf lord Thorin Oakenshield, holding his weapon of choice — Orcrist, the Goblin-cleaver — in The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey.

Check out the image here above.

The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey hits theaters on December 14, 2012 with its second part, The Hobbit: There and Back Again, to be released a year later on December 13, 2013.

Here’s the official description of the image:

As a young Dwarf prince, Thorin witnessed the destruction and terror wrought when a great fire-breathing Dragon attacked the Dwarf Kingdom of Erebor. After slaughtering many of Thorin’s kin, the great serpent, Smaug, entered The Lonely Mountain and took possession of its vast store of gold and jewels. No-one came to the aid of the surviving Dwarves, and thus, a once proud and noble race was forced into exile. Through long years of hardship, Thorin grew to be a strong and fearless fighter and revered leader. In his heart a fierce desire grew; a desire to reclaim his homeland and destroy the beast that had brought such misery upon his people. So when fate offers him an unusual ally, he seizes the chance for revenge.

[Source: The One Ring]