Peter Jackson's two-part adaptation of J.R.R. Tolkien's The Hobbit may have had a rough preproduction, but at least hipster musical comedy fans have reason to anticipate the films. Variety is reporting that Flight of the Conchords star Bret McKenzie has been cast as an elf named Lindir in the project, which began filming last month in McKenzie's native New Zealand.

McKenzie appeared briefly as a different elf in the first and third installments of the original Lord of the Rings trilogy. In The Hobbit, according to Wikipedia, Lindir once listened to Bilbo Baggins read poetry and "may have been a minstrel or musician." People seemed less excited by the news McKenzie would be returning to Middle Earth and more grateful for the chance to see McKenzie once again, even if it will be without Conchords cohort Jemaine Clement. HBO cancelled the Flight of the Conchords series after two seasons in 2009.

"To celebrate," suggests New York magazine's Amos Barshad, "let's all listen to 'If You're Into It' together." OK.

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Ray Gustini