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WELSH movie hunk Luke Evans has landed the biggest role of his career after being cast in The Hobbit.

It’s the first time the Aberbargoed actor, who starred as “top farmer totty” in Tamara Drewe, has appeared in a Peter Jackson franchise. He plays Bard the Grim, a skilled human archer, in the New Zealand-filmed blockbuster.

Luke, who has made a name for himself in “sword and sandals” films playing Zeus in Immortals and Apollo in Clash of the Titans, said he’s massively excited about the project, which has just started filming and will take a year to complete.

“I’m just about to start a very, very big one – The Hobbit,” the 32-year-old said.

“There are no sandals, though. I start in a week’s time, and I’m there for a year.”

Lord of the Rings director Jackson has been gradually recruiting people to the movie, which also stars Sherlock star Benedict Cumberbatch as the voice of dragon Draug.

But Luke, who will star in two movies The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey and The Hobbit: There and Back Again, said he doesn’t think there will be any new additions to the cast, which already includes Orlando Bloom, Martin Freeman, Elijah Wood, Cate Blanchett and Ian McKellen.

And Luke admitted he’s slightly nervous at the prospect of filming.

“It’s big! It’s really big. It’s not overwhelming to the point of being terrifying, but it is quite a big thing.

“This is a big movie and I’m working with a director that is probably one of the best directors around today. He’s the most respected director in the world.

“The whole thing is epic, and I’m going to be part of it. I’m really excited. I can’t wait.”

Luke was last seen playing a generic thug in Russell Crowe’s Robin Hood. He’ll have a bigger role in Immortals when that’s released later this year, since he’s playing father of the Greek gods Zeus.

And fans can also catch him in the upcoming version of The Three Musketeers, wielding a sword as Aramis.