Orlando Bloom Officially Joins Cast of The Hobbit

Director Peter Jackson announced Friday that Bloom will reprise his Lord of the Rings role in the fantasy flick

Orlando Bloom is joining the Hobbit gang after all.

Months after the initial reports that Bloom would appear in The Lord of the Rings prequels, director Peter Jackson confirmed Friday the studly star will indeed be back as elf-prince Legolas.

So, how exactly will that work since Bloom's character doesn't appear in the book version of The Hobbit?

You'll just have to wait to see.

While Jackson revealed his decision to include Legolas in the film adaptation of J.R.R. Tolkein's novel…the Oscar winner didn't exactly spill the beans on how Legolas will be placed within the story.

"Ten years ago, Orlando Bloom created an iconic character with his portrayal of Legolas," Jackson wrote on his Facebook page. "I'm excited to announce today that we'll be revisiting Middle Earth with him once more. I'm thrilled to be working with Orlando again. Funny thing is, I look older—and he doesn't! I guess that's why he makes such a wonderful elf."

Bloom will join LOTR franchise stars Ian McKellen and Andy Serkis, all reprising their roles in The Hobbit as well.

Likewise, a couple other alums are back, even though their characters were absent from the original Hobbit tale: Elijah Wood's Frodo and Cate Blanchett's Galadriel.

The first Hobbit film is scheduled for release in late 2012.