THE HOBBIT (2012-2013): Evangeline Lilly, Barry Humphries Cast

Evangeline Lilly and Barry Humphries have been cast in The Hobbit (2012-2013). Evangeline Lilly, Barry Humphries being cast Peter Jackson‘s The Hobbit introduces a completely new character into the J.R.R. Tolkien world (Evangeline Lilly) and fills a currently uncast role (Barry Humphries).

Barry Humphries will play the Goblin King and Evangeline Lilly will play Tauriel, a Woodland Elf.

Evangeline Lilly, Bikini

The official casting update from Peter Jackson via Facebook:

Yikes! I can finally get back to some postings! We’ve finished our first block of shooting and moved straight into location scouting. More on that soon… But today, I’m thrilled to announce two new cast members who will be joining us for our second block of shooting.

Evangeline Lilly will be playing a new character—the Woodland Elf, Tauriel. Her name means ‘daughter of Mirkwood’ and, beyond that, we must leave you guessing! (No, there is no romantic connection to Legolas.) What is not a secret is how talented and compelling an actress Evangeline is; we are thrilled and excited she will be the one to bring our first true Sylvan Elf to life.

I’m also highly excited that Barry Humphries

On Barry Humphries and the Goblin King:

The character is an antagonist Orc Leader who causes trouble for Bilbo and his companions. The director described the actor’s transformation into the character as similar to the techniques used to turn Andy Serkis into Gollum.

The Hobbit‘s plot synopsis:

The Hobbit follows the journey of title character Bilbo Baggins, who is swept into an epic quest to reclaim the lost Dwarf Kingdom of Erebor, which was long ago conquered by the dragon Smaug. Approached out of the blue by the wizard Gandalf the Grey, Bilbo finds himself joining a company of thirteen dwarves led by the legendary warrior, Thorin Oakensheild. Their journey will take them into the Wild; through treacherous lands swarming with Goblins and Orcs, deadly Wargs and Giant Spiders, Shapeshifters and Sorcerers. Although their goal lies to the East and the wastelands of the Lonely Mountain first they must escape the goblin tunnels, where Bilbo meets the creature that will change his life forever … Gollum.

Here, alone with Gollum, on the shores of an underground lake, the unassuming Bilbo Baggins not only discovers depths of guile and courage that surprise even him, he also gains possession of Gollum’s “precious” ring that holds unexpected and useful qualities … A simple, gold ring that is tied to the fate of all Middle-earth in ways Bilbo cannot begin to know.

Evangeline Lilly and Barry Humphries join a The Hobbit cast that already includes Ian McKellen, Andy Serkis, Hugo Weaving, Cate Blanchett, Christopher Lee, Ian Holm, Elijah Wood, Orlando Bloom, Benedict Cumberbatch, Luke Evans, Richard Armitage, Jed Brophy, Adam Brown, John Callen, Stephen Fry, Ryan Gage, Mark Hadlow, Peter Hambleton, Stephen Hunter, William Kircher, Sylvester McCoy, Bret McKenzie, Graham McTavish, Mike Mizrahi, James Nesbitt, Dean O’Gorman, Lee Pace, Mikael Persbrandt, Conan Stevens, Ken Stott, Jeffrey Thomas, and Aidan Turner.

The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey will be released on December 14, 2012 and The Hobbit: There and Back Again on December 13, 2013. For more The Hobbit photos, videos, and information, check out our The Hobbit Page.

Source: Deadline, Dailyblam