Benedict Cumberbatch photyographed by Paola Kudacki for TIME.
Benedict Cumberbatch photyographed by Paola Kudacki for TIME.

Benedict Cumberbatch sits down with Drew McWeeny from HitFix to discuss playing the dragon Smaug in The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug. Cumberbatch also goes into detail about his vocal training and learning the Black Speech in order to play the role of The Necromancer. Speaking of which, he does along the way divulge something that might be a movie spoiler for some (highlight just below if you want to find out what is).

Benedict Cumberbatch on The Necromancer:

He’s like a black hole. Everything goes toward, and through, him. He’s not formed — fully formed. He’s between shapes. and he’s sorta shapeshifting but not Beorn… He’s lost. He’s not quite manifest yet.