Martin Freeman took the role of Bilbo Baggins in the movie The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug. Casting agency BGT has now called its search for actors for the TV series 'urgent'.

It's predicted to be the most expensive TV series ever made, but Lord of the Rings is still short of actors.

Talent agency BGT has put out an "urgent" call for more actors to audition for the Amazon production, which will be filmed in New Zealand. But a spokesperson would not confirm the roles.

"It's such a massive series, we can never have enough faces," she said.

Craggy faces and lots of hair - those are some of the features BGT is looking for. Viggo Mortensen played Aragorn in the LOTR movies.

And, if you're wondering what "talents" you need to apply, well BGT says it would help to be either very tall, very short, or "ethereal".

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But that's not all. The BGT website says it's also "calling all hairy humans". "BGT need hairy males and females! Long hair, beards, eyebrows – the more hair the better!

CHRIS McKEEN/STUFF Auckland's wild west coast beaches, such as Muriwai, will be perfect locations for LOTR. Several Hollywood productions have been shot at Kumeu Film Studios.

"You will be needed for background extra and featured extra roles (with opportunities to upgrade to larger roles)."

Other suggested attributes include craggy faces with lots of lines. BGT is looking for older men and women with "lived-in faces" that are "characterful".

Faces with freckles and scars are also in demand. And the agency's Facebook page mentions circus performers (stilt walking an advantage), and magicians.

MORNING REPORT/RNZ Actor Robyn Malcolm, who fought against the "Hobbit" employment law has high hopes the new Lord of the Rings series will be a boon for the local film industry.

The show, which will be based in Auckland, is expected to premiere in 2021. Costs are estimated to be in excess of US$1 billion (NZ$1.3b).

When it was confirmed LOTR would be filmed in New Zealand, showrunners and executive producers J.D Payne and Patrick McKay said "as we searched for the location in which we could bring to life the primordial beauty of the Second Age of Middle Earth, we knew we needed to find somewhere majestic, with pristine coasts, forests, and mountains, that also is a home to world-class sets, studios, and highly skilled and experienced craftspeople and other staff".