Despite having started shooting in March, the cast of Peter Jackson’s THE HOBBIT PART I & II continues to swell with the announcement of its latest acquisitions…

First up, LOST’s lady-on-the-run Kate Austen herself, Evangeline Lilly, will portray a new character to the world of Middle Earth – the Woodland Elf Tauriel (great casting given her Elven features – and I mean that in the nicest possible way.)

Next up, yes, the headline is correct. Dame Edna Everage actor Barry Humphries has signed to play (via performance capture) The Goblin King. Now I have to admit to being a tad taken aback by this at first, but after examining his career we’ve noticed a few credentials that put us at ease – providing the voice of Bruce in Pixar’s FINDING NEMO and The Narrator in the critically acclaimed MARY AND MAX to name but two examples. Still… bit odd.

Find our previous HOBBIT coverage here, here, aaaaand here.

THE HOBBIT: AN UNEXPECTED JOURNEY is released on December 14th 2012, with part two THE HOBBIT: THERE AND BACK AGAIN following a year later.

What do you folks make of these recent casting decisions? Have you forgiven Kate Austen for being so darn dreary on the show yet? Happy with the star of LES PATTISON SAVES THE WORLD playing The Goblin King? Let us know with your comments below!