Richard Armitage: 'Hobbit will have more humour'

Richard Armitage has revealed that The Hobbit will likely have more humour than the previous Lord of the Rings trilogy.

The actor will play Thorin Oakenshield in the upcoming two-part fantasy series, directed by Peter Jackson.

"There's going to be quite a lot more humour," he told Total Film.

"The book is so focused on the dwarves, so I think it's a chance for Peter [Jackson] and Fran [Walsh] to really look at that whole race in more detail, their heritage and what they're like as characters."

Armitage added that the costumes and armour used in the film will please fans. However, he added that he struggled with his character's famous sword, the Orcrist.

"It's bloody heavy, but it's absolutely beautiful to look at," he said. "Every time they bring something new out, everyone gasps. The armour that the dwarves emerge from the mountain wearing at the end of the film will be the armour of all armour."

The Spooks star also spoke of his excitement to be linked with Jackson's previous Middle-Earth trilogy, as he is a big fan of the original films.

"There was a scene in The Lord of the Rings where they find the stone trolls, and they're identical in The Hobbit," he said.

"I love those moments, when you link into the world of the film that you've seen before."

The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey will open at cinemas on December 14, 2012.

Sir Ian McKellen, Cate Blanchett, Orlando Bloom, Sir Ian Holm, Sir Christopher Lee, Hugo Weaving, Elijah Wood and Andy Serkis will reprise their roles from the Lord of the Rings trilogy, while cast newcomers include Martin Freeman as Bilbo Baggins, Stephen Fry, Benedict Cumberbatch, Sylvester McCoy, Bret McKenzie, James Nesbitt, Lee Pace, Aidan Turner and Luke Evans.