Date: 8th December 2010

Cate Blanchett joins cast of 'The Hobbit'


The film studio behind "The Hobbit" movies on Tuesday unveiled more of the cast of the widely-anticipated movie, including Cate Blanchett who will reprise her role as an elf in "The Lord of the Rings" movies.

The Oscar-winning Australian actress, who played Galadriel the Lady of Lothlorien in the Lord Of The Rings trilogy, has agreed to reprise the role for the two upcoming Peter Jackson films.

Jackson told Reuters: "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."

Jackson, who directed all three of the "Lord of the Rings" films is making two movies based on "The Hobbit," the first of which will be released in December 2012. The second is expected to follow one year later.

Along with Blanchett, Warner Bros. Pictures said Ken Stott will portray the Dwarf Lord Balin, Sylvester McCoy has been cast as the wizard Radagast the Brown and Sweden's Mikael Persbrandt will play the shape-shifter Beorn.

The first Hobbit movie, which also stars Ken Stott, Sylvester McCoy and Martin Freeman, is scheduled for release in 2012.

Source: Press Release