Weta Digital, the Oscar-winning, New Zealand-based firm responsible for the visual effects on the "Lord of the Rings" trilogy, has been selected by 20th Century Fox to work on the studio's picture, "Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer," according to IGN Filmforce.

Doug Jones, known for his work on the film "Hellboy," has been tapped in the role of the Silver Surfer.

As Andy Serkis did in the LOTR pictures and Peter Jackson's "King Kong" remake, Jones will, according to The Hollywood Reporter, "provide performance and movement references for Weta."

The trade said, "Weta has developed an advanced computer-generated animation process that employs motion-capture techniques updated to add further dimensionality to the liquid-metal hero."

The voice of the Silver Surfer has not yet been cast. For "Hellboy," Jones played the role of Abe Sapien on-set while David Hyde Pierce provided the voice of the character, IGN Filmforce said.

Julian McMahon is also reprising his role as Dr. Doom for the FF sequel, balancing his schedule on the series "Nip/Tuck" so he can do the TV series as well as the FF follow-up, which is now shooting in Vancouver, the site said.

"Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer" is slated for release in 2007.