Electronic Arts announced that Hugo Weaving will assume the role of lead voiceover talent in The Lord of the Rings: The Battle for Middle-earth II. Concept artist John Howe of The Lord of the Rings film trilogy is also on board to design entirely new creatures and locations of Middle-earth. Hugo Weaving is best known for his part in the Matrix trilogy as Agent Smith and for playing Elrond in the Lord of the Rings movies. As the voice of The Lord of the Rings, The Battle for Middle-earth II, Weaving will create the game's overarching tone by guiding players in and out of each good and evil mission within the single player campaigns.