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Evans: Transition from stage to screen is ‘Hobbit’ forming It sounds like a little boy's dream, getting to play Zeus, a Musketeer and a J.R.R. Tolkien character on the bigscreen. But Welsh actor Luke Evans wanted to be a singer first and then became a staple of West End stages. He didn't get his first film audition until turning 28.   "Singing is a very emotional thing, so if you just take away the tune, you're still emoting" says Evans from London, where - on a break from playing Bard the Bowman in "The Hobbit" - he's attending the U.K. premiere of "The Three Musketeers." In the newest remake of the classic tale he plays Aramis.   Soon after that gala, he's on to another one. The actor will head Stateside for the launch of "Immortals," in which he gets all Zeus-like.   The various roles may feel quite eclectic and the process a far cry from the West End, but the transition from green-screen-heavy, action-filled movies wasn't that much of a leap.   "You're still telling a story, there's just not 1,000 people watching," says the 32-year-old Evans, who will also be seen early next year as an inspector opposite John Cusack's Edgar Allen Poe in the thriller, "The Raven."   One thing Evans treasures is learning a specialized skill with each successive role.   "I can show jump a horse, I can shoot a 10-meter longbow, and I've gotten to learn French sword fighting," says Evans of his most recent accomplishments. "I've relished every minute of it."   He auditioned for "The Hobbit" over a year ago but it wasn't until he attended Comic-Con in San Diego this past summer that he realized what being in the pic could do for his recognition factor. "I remember hearing, 'Do you realize fans are going to see you as Bard the Bowman for the rest of your career?' It hit home very quickly," he recalls of the power of being associated with "The Lord of the Rings" franchise.   It's the variety of roles and the chance to work with great people, though, that inspire Evans.   "If Peter Jackson was doing a horror film, I'd do it," explains Evans. "I do a particular project because of the script and the director."   Lucky break: "A play called 'Small Change' at the Donmar Warehouse in London. It opened the eyes of casting directors for movies for me. None of them knew who I was before this play." Favorite movie: "I can watch 'Empire of the Sun' over and over again." Career I’d like to emulate: "Anthony Hopkins. The guy has so much class about him. Even if I don't like the film, I love what he does in it."     ‘Immortals’ star Luke Evans ‘can’t wait to go back to work’ on ‘The Hobbit’   Luke Evans is having an epic moment: He plays Aramis in 'The Three Musketeers,' Zeus in the upcoming 'Immortals,' and he's also been cast in a strategic role in Peter Jackson's 'Hobbit' films as Bard the Bowman, a heroic human who comes to Bilbo Baggins' aid. Evans talked to Moviefone about 'Immortals' (look for our interview with him about playing the youngest version of the Greek God closer to the movie's release on Nov. 11) and how much he's enjoying shooting the "longest job of his life" in New Zealand.  Your character, Bard the Bowman, has a very pivotal role. That's a big moment there at the end of the story. There's an epic moment there, yeah. Have you been practicing your archery skills? Yes, I was trained for three weeks in New Zealand with a stunt coordinator, learning my new weapon. I've gone from swords in 'Musketeers' and a bow - a long bow at that - for 'The Hobbit,' so it's been a really interesting education, because there's very different ways of using a bow and arrow, so I've learned lots of them to make it look realistic. When do you go back to work on it? I go back in three weeks for my second block. Taking a little break to open 'Musketeers' and 'Immortals' and talk to you lovely people. The actors who made 'The Lord of the Rings' films had this amazing camaraderie, are you experiencing that on 'The Hobbit?' Yes, I am. It's interesting because the boys -- and when I say the boys, I mean the dwarves -- have been there since February, so they already had their team set up. But there's a lovely energy when you go to Wellington and you meet the whole team, including Fran [Walsh] and Philippa [Boyens] and the whole crew. Everybody. It's a Kiwi quality which I absolutely love and they immediately embrace you and you're part of the family. It just sort of transcends all the way through the layers [of the production], from the runners up to the top. Everybody's there loving the fact they're doing something incredibly special and I feel very honored to be in this family. I feel part of it now and I miss them very much and I can't wait to go back, to be honest. How much longer do you have to film your part? I'm there until the middle of next year. It's the longest job of my life. We can't wait to see it. Neither can I. 'Hobbit' cast is a 'little family', Luke Evans Says 'Peter [Jackson] and the team create a very warm atmosphere on set and off set', actor tells MTV News. The last time we caught up with "Hobbit" actor Luke Evans — who is playing dragon slayer Bard the Bowman in Peter Jackson's two-part big-screen adaptation of the J. R. R. Tolkien classic — he had yet to descend on New Zealand and Jackson's Middle-earth, but he was excited to dig into his meaty new role. Now, almost three months later, Evans has finally begun work on the highly anticipated film, and when MTV News sat down with him as he promoted the upcoming sword-and-sandals flick "Immortals," he revealed he's become much better acquainted with a bow and arrow and that there's a lot of warm-fuzzy bonding happening between the cast and crew.   "It's been fantastic, the training before we started shooting 'The Hobbit,' " Evans said when we asked how his archery skills were progressing. "I'm fully into it now, and it's great. I'm having a fantastic time. Living in New Zealand, it's like a different world — it is a different world. It's very, very cool."   When asked if there might be any particularly cool scenes or scene partners he's been working with he could tease or talk about, Evans admitted that he's barely scratched the surface of what is scripted for his role.   "The thing is, I've done about 10 percent of what I'm going to be doing, shoot-wise, so I can't really say, but the cast are fantastic. We're so far away from home. We have a little family," he said. "Peter [Jackson] and the team create a very warm atmosphere on set and off set. We all socialize, it's really special. I just feel very lucky to be a part of it."   Does that off-set bonding include group activities like "Hobbit" game nights? "No!" Evans laughed. Sources 1, 2, 3 For those who are wondering about the first two pictures, they're from GQ Italia. Luke is grateful that you came to this post!