NEW YORK (Variety) - Orlando Bloom will star in "Troy," the adaptation of "The Iliad" being directed by Wolfgang Petersen.

Bloom will play the role of Paris, the character who instigates the Trojan War that triggers an epic battle between Achilles (Brad Pitt) and Hector (Eric Bana).

The Warner Bros. project will begin filming in London, Malta and Morocco next year for a 2004 release.

Since landing his first major role as Legolas in "The Fellowship of the Ring," Bloom's screen ascension has been rapid. He stars in upcoming "Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers" and will star in "Pirates of the Caribbean."

Troy Boy
Empire Online

Girls rejoice, for Orlando Bloom, the keeper of your hearts and poster boy for the hormonally imbalanced everywhere, may be sporting an attractive skirt and sandals ensemble in Wolfgang Petersen's impending epic, Troy. Joining Brad Pitt and Eric Bana, Bloom is currently poised to leap into the Grecian history books as Paris, the brother of Hector and Helen of Troy's bit on the side.

Bringing the glory of Homer's Iliad to life, Troy charts the bloody path of the Trojan war, which encompasses a ten year conflict, numerous bloody battles and an unfeasibly large wooden horse. Pitt takes the lead as legendary Greek hero, Achilles, with Bana standing on the other side of the wall as Trojan prince, Hector. Bloom's Paris is the man who provoke's the wrath of Menelaus, the Spartan King - by spiriting away his beautiful wife Helen - and kicking the whole fracas off in the first place.

Given the rabid appetite you ladies seem to have for this young Canterbury native, we can't think of a better person than Bloom to bring great nations to war with the consequences of his rampant libido.