Benedict Cumberbatch recently spoke to MTV about his work on upcoming Middle-earth epic The Hobbit .
Talking from Elton John’s Oscar-viewing party (alright for some: we just watched the ceremony in our lounge with an industrial-sized vat of tea), he spoke about the technical process involved in playing a dragon, and his relationship with the cast and crew.
On his Hobbit experience, Sherlock star Cumberbatch said, “I was very lucky [ to work ] with Pete [ Jackson ].”
“As far as the experience, what an extraordinary one it was because at the time I was in my work, I was in isolation with him and this incredible tag team. And at the very cool place with that technology doing mo-cap for two characters, Smaug the dragon and another character, which will remain nameless, and it was an awful lot of fun.”
“It’s a sort of wonderful ongoing process,” he added. “I spent a lot of time recording voice as well as doing movements. So, it was sort of freeing; it was fun. It was like playing a game.
“It’s going to be an amazing film; it’s going to be a real treat. I watched The Lord Of The Rings again before I started working, and the way those films grow in depth of craft on every level are extraordinary. Their mark is for that.”
And on working with his Sherlock co-star Martin Freeman (who plays Bilbo), Cumberbatch said: “It was great. I got to hang out with him, and I kept a straight face for a bit and then I started giggling because I know Martin, I don’t know Bilbo.
“For Martin to be sitting there playing Bilbo is amazing. He’s going to be amazing, he’s going to be fantastic in this film.”
The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey opens on 14 December 2012. We’re possibly even more excited about it than Cumberbatch is.