This week, more casting has been confirmed for The Hobbit films, including Cate Blanchett, 41, reprising her Lord of the Rings role as elf queen Galadriel, the Lady of Lothlorien.
Director Peter Jackson welcomed the news of Cate Blanchett’s return to Middle-earth, “Cate is one of my favourite actors to work with and I couldn’t be more thrilled to have her reprise the role she so beautifully brought to life in the earlier films.”
New Line-Warner Bros also announced that Ken Stott, Sylvester McCoy, Mikael Persbrandt, Ryan Gage, Jed Brophy and William Kircher have been confirmed for the fantasy adventure film franchise.
Other actors previously announced for the cast include Martin Freeman (TV’s Sherlock, Breaking and Entering) in the lead role of Bilbo Baggins, Richard Armitage (upcoming Captain America: The First Avenger), Aidan Turner (TV’s Being Human), Rob Kazinsky (TVs EastEnders), and Graham McTavish (Secretariat).
The Hobbit movies will be filmed in Digital 3-D, with releases scheduled for December 2012 and December 2013. In 2003, LOTR: The Return of the King dominated the Academy Awards, winning all of the 11 categories in which it was nominated, including Best Picture – the first ever Best Picture win for a fantasy film.
Last seen as Lady Marian opposite Russell Crowe in Robin Hood, Blanchett’s next project, action-thriller Hanna, which co-stars Saoirse Ronan and Eric Bana is due in theatres April 2011.