Benedict Cumberbatch says that he can't wait to begin working on The Hobbit in January.
The British actor is taking on the role of Smaug in the Peter Jackson movie, a character that will feature heavily in the second movie.
The movie will reunite him with his Sherlock Holmes co-star Martin Freeman, who takes on the role of Bilbo Baggins.
Speaking to Collider the actor said: "I can't wait, but the conversations have yet to start really in earnest because they've been doing the first film and I've been doing the second series of Sherlock and another series which I'm working on now called Parade's End for HBO and BBC with Tom Stoppard, and Rebecca Hall co-starring.
"I've already started working out and doing various movement exercises to get myself limber for that all-important jump suit with balls on it, otherwise known as motion-capture.
"But I can't wait, I'm really excited. I go to film it in January."
Cumberbatch was part of the ensemble cast of Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy and we will be seeing him in the new year in War Horse.
The Hobbit is to be split into two movies to be released in 2012 and 2013.
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