J.R.R. Tolkien's Middle Earth is famously devoid of female characters.
In order to remedy that, a new female elf has been created for The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug. Check out the first photo (from EW) of the character, named Tauriel, portrayed by Evangeline Lilly:
The second film in the trilogy, The Desolation of Smaug finds Bilbo, Gandalf, and the Dwarves continuing their journey to retrieve their gold from Smaug.
Martin Freeman, Benedict Cumberbatch (Star Trek Into Darkness), Luke Evans, Christopher Lee, Hugo Weaving, Richard Armitage, Ian McKellen (X-Men: Days of Future Past), Cate Blanchett, Elijah Wood, Lee Pace, Aidan Turner, Billy Connolly, and Andy Serkis star.
Peter Jackson directs the film, which will come out December 13.