‘The Hobbit’ director Peter Jackson has announced that Evangeline Lilly and Barry Humphries have joined the cast of ‘The Hobbit,’ Moviefone is reporting. Lilly will portray Woodland Elf Tauriel, a role that was written just for the movie and wasn’t included in J.R.R. Tolkien’s novel that the two-part film series is based on. Humphries has been cast as the Goblin King.

While Jackson hasn’t yet revealed many details about either character, he said Tauriel “means ‘daughter of Mirkwood…No, there is no romantic connection to Legolas (Orlando Bloom).” But the director did say he’s excited Lilly “will be the one to bring our first true Sylvan Elf to life.”

Jackson also said Humphries will be portraying the Goblin King “in much the way Andy Serkis created Gollum…(Humphries) is a fine actor, and we’re looking forward to seeing him invest the Goblin King with the delicate sensitivity and emotional depth this character deserves.”

Written by: Karen Benardello