Only select theaters will screen The Hobbit’s 48 fps version

In a surprise move, Variety is reporting that Warner Brothers has decided to cut the wide release of the 48fps version of The Hobbit and release that version of the film in select locations (possibly leaving it out of most major cities) and releasing the film in its wide release in the standard frame rate most films are presented in.

While it is currently unclear why WB has decided to not release the version the director has filmed as the wide release, rumors suggest that’s its due to the footage shown and its unpopularity at Comic-Con this past year.

The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey will hit theaters on Dec 14, 2012.