Deadline says:
Luke Evans has bagged the role of Bard in The Hobbit, a last major part that Peter Jackson hadn't cast in a production that's underway in New Zealand. Bard the Grim is a skilled archer, and the heir of King Girion of Dale. The king was killed by the talking dragon Smaug. The character plays a greater role in the second film, and is somewhat reminiscent of the action-hero exploits of Viggo Mortensen's Aragorn, I'm told.
The Hobbit casting just keeps getting better and better! Evans is one of those Brits to watch, can't wait to see him in Immortals as well. He reminds me of Orlando Bloom a bit, but far more interesting.