Elementary, my dear Smaug...

99% official - a while back we reported that Sherlock's Benedict Cumberbatch had been confirmed as being attached to The Hobbit. Given his look, I think a lot of us assumed he'd be playing an Elf.

Now comes word that Benedict will be voicing that legendary dragon of dragons, Smaug, as well as a mysterious character called The Necromancer, who is later revealed to be an evildoer of some importance...

Cumberbatch will wear a motion capture suit to portray Smaug and has been getting serious buzz for his supporting performances in the Steven Spielberg-directed War Horse as well as Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy, in which he stars opposite Gary Oldman, Tom Hardy and Colin Firth.