Earlier this month, we brought you the news that Lee Pace and Dean O’Gorman joined the cast of The Hobbit. Director Peter Jackson announced that Pace would portray King Thranduil, while O’Gorman would take over the role of Fili from Robert Kazinsky (EastEnders, Red Tails), who had to depart the production.

Now, director Peter Jackson has announced the addition of Stephen Fry (Alice In Wonderland) to the cast of The Hobbit: Part 1. Fry, who will next be seen opposite Robert Downey Jr. in Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows will be portraying The Master of Laketown.

Jackson said,

“We are thrilled to confirm that Stephen Fry will be playing The Master of Laketown, I’ve known Stephen for several years, and we’re developing a DAMBUSTERS movie together. In addition to his writing skills, he’s a terrific actor and will create a very memorable Master for us.”

In addition to Fry, Jackson announced that Ryan Gage (Doctors, Holly Oaks) will be portraying Alfrid “The Master’s conniving civil servant”,  and Conan Stevens (Game of Thrones) will be portraying an Orc called Azog.

The Hobbit: Part 1 is currently slated to hit theaters December 2012.

The Hobbit: Part 2 is currently slated to hit theaters December 2013.

The films star Ian McKellen, Andy Serkis, Richard Armitage, Cate Blanchette, Elijah Wood, Hugo Weaving, Sylvester McCoy, Aidan Turner, Graham McTavish, John Callen, Ken Stott, Mikael Persbrandt, Ryan Gage, Jed Brophy, William Kircher, Stephen Hunter, Ian Holm, Stephen Fry, Ryan Gage and Conan Stevens.