The Hobbit: There and Back Again set for possible title change

Filmmakers spark speculation by registering new name 'Into the Fire'

Knives out: Martin Freeman in a scene from The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug (AP)

The third film in Peter Jackson's The Hobbit franchise looks set to be renamed.

The final part of Bilbo Baggins' epic journey was set to be called There and Back Again, but reports suggest that Into the Fire has been registered as a new title.

It remains unclear what the trademark will be used for, however, as studios often register multiple names when deciding which one to settle on.

New Line Cinema previously opted for Battle of Five Armies, before confirming in August 2012 that The Desolation of Smaug and There and Back Again would be the titles of the last two movies.

As there are just eight months to go until the final film is released, some disgruntled fans have been speculating that Into the Fire could instead be the planned name for a yet-to-be-announced tie-in project, possibly a video game.

Tolkien devotees are also arguing that Bilbo’s fiery ordeal has already happened, with Benedict Cumberbatch's dragon Smaug in the second installment.

The new title would be a nod to the book chapter, "Out of The Frying Pan, Into the Fire", but There and Back Again is part of the original novel’s title and would arguably make more sense for the storyline.

Notably, there has been no sign of an official trailer or poster for There and Back Again, making a name change before releasing promotional materials seem possible. We'll just have to wait for further confirmation.

The film is due in cinemas on 17 December, starring Martin Freeman, Richard Armitage, Benedict Cumberbatch and Evangeline Lilly.