LEE FUCKIN' PACE IS IN THE HOBBIT

I have no freaking idea how I missed this news, as it was announced right at the beginning of May, but:

Lee Pace will be playing the Elven King Thranduil.

OMG OMG OMG OMG !!!

Hm - is Lee only the second American to be cast in any of the LotR movies? Or am I forgetting someone besides Sean Astin?

ETA: Dur - Viggo. I always think of him as Norwegian, since his family only moved to the U.S. when he was born.

EATA: OY. Elijah Wood, Liv Tyler... never mind.

Still - LEE PACE!