More for Middle-Earth as the cast of The Hobbit continues to grow

Peter Jackson is currently hard at work down in New Zealand filming The Hobbit, the prequel to his blockbuster Lord of the Rings trilogy, and the cast for the two-part epic continues to expand. The latest names to join the cast include Dean O'Gorman (Hercules: The Legendary Journeys), who replaces former EastEnders star Robert Kazinsky as the dwarf Fili, and Lee Pace (Pushing Daisies) as the Elven King Thranduil.

Elsewhere, Hugo Weaving has been confirmed to reprise his role as Elrond, reuniting with Peter Jackson and fellow Middle-Earth veterans Ian McKellen (Gandalf), Andy Serkis (Gollum), Cate Blanchett (Galadriel), Christopher Lee (Saruman), Elijah Wood (Frodo) and Ian Holm (old Bilbo). Orlando Bloom is also strongly linked to a return as Legolas (son of Thranduil), although it seems that The Hobbit has more than its fair share of dwarves, with John Rhys-Davies telling the Belfast Telegraph that we're unlikely to see any more of Gimli in the prequels.

Along with the familiar faces, The Hobbit boasts a cast that looks to be challenging the extended version of The Fellowship of the Ring in terms of end credit length. Martin Freeman leads as Bilbo Baggins and he is joined by Richard Armitage as Thorin Oakenshield, Graham McTavish as Dwalin, Ken Stott as Balin, Aidan Turner as Kíli, Mark Hadlow as Dori, Jed Brophy as Nori, Adam Brown as Ori, John Callen as Óin, Peter Hambleton as Glóin, William Kircher as Bifur, James Nesbitt as Bofur, Stephen Hunter as Bombur, Mikael Persbrandt as Beorn, Sylvester McCoy as Radagast the Brown, Jeffrey Thomas as Thrór, Mike Mizrahi as Thráin II, Bret McKenzie as Lindir and Mike Mizrahi as King Thráin II. Saoirse Ronan is also expected to feature as Itaril, an Elf specifically created for the prequels, while Leonard Nimoy is rumoured as the voice of Smaug.

The Hobbit: Part 1 is set for release in December 2012, with Part 2 arriving the following year. Be sure to keep your eye on the official Facebook site for Peter Jackson's behind-the-scenes production diaries.