The MTV project “Shannara,” a 10-episode adaptation of Terry Brooks’ “The Elfstones of Shannara,” has cast actor Manu Bennett in a co-starring role as the world’s last druid, The Hollywood Reporter’s Live Feed reports.

Bennett’s character, Allanon, is a wise man who gets Wil, played by Austin Butler, to fulfill his destiny and save the world, the story says. It’s not the first fantasy role for Bennett, as he plays the orc king Azog in “The Hobbit: The Battle of The Five Armies.” He also played Crixus on Starz’ “Spartacus.”

MTV gave the project a straight-to-series order in June. The book series now has more than two dozen books, and is considered the highest-selling unadapted fantasy series in the world, the piece adds.

Manu Bennett