Orlando Bloom books fantasy TV role

Orlando Bloom is heading to TV for his first major role on the small screen.

The Lord of the Rings actor has been cast to star in fantasy series Carnival Row, which he will also produce.

The eight episode series, which will air on Amazon, will center on a neo-Victorian city where mythical creatures are traveling to escape their war-torn homes.

The city's natives and the immigrant population are at odds with each other and Bloom, a police inspector, is assigned to investigate a fairy showgirl's murder on Carnival Row.

Rene Echevarria will write and executive produce the series alongside director Paul McGuigan and Travis Beacham, who wrote the original script, A Killing on Carnival Row.

The series is set to start shooting this autumn (17) and will be released in 2019, according to Variety.com.

This will be Bloom's first big TV role, although he previously appeared in 2016 comedy series Easy, as well as LA Phil Live, Extras, and Midsomer Murders.