ORLANDO BLOOM WANTS HOBBIT ROLE

Orlando Bloom is desperate to reprise his role as an elf-prince in upcoming Lord Of The Rings prequel The Hobbit - he's already asked Peter Jackson for a part in the new movie.

The British actor landed his breakthrough role playing Legolas in Jackson's 2001 epic The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring, and he went on to star in the two sequels.

Work has now begin on a prequel, based on J. R. R. Tolkien's The Hobbit - the book which began the fantasy story franchise - and Bloom wants to be involved.

He admits he has already emailed Lord of the Rings director Jackson, who will write t he screenplay for the film, to inquire about the casting.

He tells MTV.com, "I shot an email to Pete and I said, 'You know, if you want me to don the blond wig and pointy ears again, I'd be honoured to do it.' He said - funnily enough - 'Well, we'll see'. They're very, very hush-hush."

But Bloom admits the decision may rest with Guillermo del Toro, who will direct the blockbuster.

He adds, "It's Guillermo's movie and I'm a huge fan of that man. He's obviously going to take his own idea of it, but I'm excited for that movie. I think it's going to be great."

The film will be released in two parts, with the first picture expected in 2012.