Mike Fleming

Cate Blanchett is returning as Galadriel in The Hobbit, which Peter Jackson directs in February. Jackson has also set Ken Stott (Charlie Wilson’s War) to play Dwarf Lord Balin, Sylvester McCoy (Dr. Who) to play the wizard Radagast the Brown, and Swedish actor Mikael Persbrandt (Day and Night) to play shape-shifter Beorn. Ryan Gage (Outlaw) will play Drogo Baggins and Jed Brophy (who appeared in the original The Lord of the Rings) will play the dwarf Nori, and William Kircher will play the dwarf Bifur.

On Blanchett’s return as the ethereal Lady of Lothlorien, Jackson said: “Cate if one of my favorite 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 wrote the script with Fran Walsh, Philippa Boyens and Guillermo del Toro–previously announced that Martin Freeman will play Bilbo Baggins. Blanchett likely won’t be the only returning cast member. Ian McKellen is expected to reprise Gandalf and Andy Serkis is expected to bring back Gollum. The film’s being made by New Line as a co-production between Warner Bros and MGM.