Leo Woodall has opened up about his major new role in the upcoming Lord Of The Rings movie – declaring it a “boyhood dream” to be part of the franchise.

The 29-year-old actor, who had a breakout role in The White Lotus season 2, is heading to Middle-earth as part of an all-star cast in Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum.

Announced in April to be playing Halvard, a brand new character not present in the original JRR Tolkien books, Woodall has remained tight-lipped about what lies ahead.

However, speaking exclusively to Radio Times, he has admitted just how much stepping into the fantasy franchise means to him.

“I can’t believe it. I can’t believe how lucky I am,” he told us.

“It’s a boyhood dream to join that world, and to join it with Ian [McKellen] and Andy [Serkis] and Elijah [Wood] involved is just… I’m made up.”

Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum is currently slated to arrive at cinemas on 17 December, 2027, and will be set between the events of The Hobbit and The Fellowship of The Ring.

The story follows Aragorn as he goes on a quest to capture Gollum, who was corrupted by the power of the One Ring, before he can tell the evil Sauron the Ring’s location.

It’s based on notes left behind by Tolkien, opposed to a full release.

Joining Woodall in the cast is Jamie Dornan, who will play Strider – an alias use by Aragorn, first played on screen by Viggo Mortensen – and Kate Winslet, who is joining the world as Marigol (another new, original character to the series).

The film also sees the return of some of the franchise’s most beloved faces, including Andy Serkis as Gollum, Elijah Wood as Frodo and Ian McKellen as Gandalf.

In the meantime, Woodall – who has since starred in Netflix’s One Day, Bridget Jones: Mad About The Boy and thriller Vladimir with Rachel Weisz – is back on our screens in new movie, Tuner.

He stars in the movie as Niki White, an apprentice piano tuner with hearing condition hyperacusis, who discovers his skills also make him particularly skilled in cracking safes.

When his mentor falls ill and racks up medical bills, Niki puts his skills to the test and finds himself magnetised to the criminal underworld.

The Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum is expected in cinemas in December 2027.

Check out more of our Film coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what’s on. For more TV recommendations and reviews, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.