Benedict Cumberbatch has joined his 'Sherlock' co-star Martin Freeman in the cast for Peter Jackson's 'The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey'.
Deadline.com, which broke the story, says that Cumberbatch will play the dragon Smaug via motion capture and has already begun work on the film.
Freeman plays hero Bilbo Baggins in the film.
In other 'Hobbit' casting news, Welsh actor Luke Evans is to play Bard.
'The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey' is due in cinemas in December 2012.
