A long way from Middle-earth! Dapper Nicholas Hoult transforms into J.R.R. Tolkien for biopic filming in Liverpool

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He has transformed into legendary author and creator of Middle-earth J.R.R. Tolkien for his latest film venture.

And Nicholas Hoult looked every inch the literary protegee as he was spotted filming new scenes for the biopic in Liverpool on Friday.

The acclaimed actor, 27, looked focused as he strolled to set clad in smart 1900s attire consisting of a red checked tie, fitted white shirt and waistcoat, paired with slate grey trousers.

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Transformation: Nicholas Hoult looked every inch the literary protegee as he was spotted filming new scenes for the J.R.R. Tolkien biopic in Liverpool on Friday

Distinguished: The acclaimed actor, 27, looked focused as he strolled to set clad in smart 1900s attire consisting of a red checked tie, fitted white shirt and waistcoat, paired with slate grey trousers

His raven locks were worn elegantly coiffed and he finished his look with patent leather shoes.

The only link to the 21st century was the warm, puffa-style jacket with a furry hood that the dapper star bundled up in for the chilly walk to set.

Although it was unclear what the scenes entailed, several cast members clad in bowler hats, suits and bustles were seen following Nicholas to set.

Another woman dressed in a maid's outfit was also seen walking onto the set. 

Suave: His raven locks were worn elegantly coiffed and he finished his look with patent leather shoes

Handsome: The only link to the 21st century was the warm, puffa-style jacket with a furry hood that the dapper star bundled up in for the chilly walk to set.

Nicholas stars in the film alongside Lily Collins, 28, who plays his love interest Edith Bratt, the woman Tolkien would eventually marry. 

The film will follow author Tolkien in his earlier years as a love lorn soldier, who, on return from the Great War, uses it as inspiration to create one of the greatest works of literature in history - The Lord Of The Rings.

The movie - which is currently titled Tolkien - also stars Lily Collins and Colm Meaney, and has been filming in various Northern locations around England, including Cheshire, the National Waterways Museum in Ellesmere Port and the Porters Row Cottages that also featured in Peaky Blinders.

The movie is being directed by Finnish filmmaker Dome Karukoski; UK duo David Gleeson and Stephen Beresford have been tasked with writing the script.

Uncanny: Nicholas was almost the spitting image of the real Tolkien (right)

Chatty: Two women in 1900s clothing were spotted chatting before filming got underway

Glamour: A group of stylish ladies flashed broad smiles as they strolled to set

Elegant: The women looked classically chic in their suits and floral hats for the filming

The director announced back in July that the film will focus on the titular writer 'as he finds friendship, love, and artistic inspiration among a fellow group of outcasts at school prior to the outbreak of World War I in 1914.'

The 'outcasts' in question were Robert Gilson, Geoffrey Bache Smith and Christopher Wiseman, who, along with Tolkien, called themselves the Tea Club and Barrovian Society (TCBS).

They were close school friends and also shared aspirations of being writers.

They each joined the military and fought on the front lines in WWI.

Gilson and Smith were killed, something Tolkien later described as being like 'like winter on his creative powers in their first bloom'.

Tea madam? A woman clad in a maid's uniform flashed a beaming smile as she walked along

Effortless: The woman commanded attention as they strolled to set with a modernly dressed crew member behind them

Fab four (plus one): Nicholas stars in the film alongside Lily Collins, 28, who plays his love interest Edith Bratt, the woman Tolkien would eventually marry. She was spotted posing with the Beatles statues in the city

The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings were written with this imagery in mind, with the novelist incorporating warfare into the plots, as well as a sense of sadness and loss.

The biopic - which is slated for a 2018 release - is not the only one of it's kind in production at the moment.

New Line Cinema is reportedly developing another biopic called Middle-earth, to be helmed by Broadchurch and Downton Abbey director James Strong.

This movie is set to chart Tolkien’s relationship with Edith Bratt.

She was reportedly the inspiration for one of his first Middle-earth stories.

Nicolas has also recently played another famous author, J.D. Salinger, in biopic Rebel In The Rye later this year.

Iconic: The film will follow author Tolkien in his earlier years as a love lorn soldier, who, on return from the Great War, uses it as inspiration to create one of the greatest works of literature in history - The Lord Of The Rings

He began his acting career alongside Hugh Grant in About A Boy when he was just seven years old.

Nicholas went on to star in cult teen drama Skins before gaining notoriety off-screen relationship with X-Men co-star Jennifer Lawrence.

Tolkien, whose full name was John Ronald Reuel, has a long and varied history for the film to draw from, having lost both parents before he was 12.

But it was his time after the war that solidified his literary presence for generations to come, penning The Hobbit and The Lord Of The Rings series when he became an academic at Pembroke College.

Releasing The Hobbit in 1937, his subsequent sequels took him over a decade to finish, completing The Return Of The King in 1949.

The author passed away in 1971 at the age of 81, with his books going on to sell more than 250 million copies worldwide and spawning six blockbuster films.

Wow: The Lord Of The Rings trilogy directed by New Zealand's Peter Jackson was adapted for the screen first, with The Fellowship Of The Ring, The Two Towers and The Return Of The King all released consecutively between 2001 and 2003

Legendary: The pictures boasted a star studded cast, making household names of Elijah Wood, Orlando Bloom (above) , Cate Blanchett, Viggo Mortensen (above), Andy Serkis, Ian McKellen and the late Sir Christopher Lee

The Lord Of The Rings trilogy directed by New Zealand's Peter Jackson was adapted for the screen first, with The Fellowship Of The Ring, The Two Towers and The Return Of The King all released consecutively between 2001 and 2003.

The pictures boasted a star studded cast, making household names of Elijah Wood, Orlando Bloom, Cate Blanchett, Viggo Mortensen, Andy Serkis, Ian McKellen and the late Sir Christopher Lee.

Both a critical and box office success, the films have since grossed nearly $3 billion worldwide and won 17 Academy Awards between them.

Must see: Both a critical and box office success, the films have since grossed nearly $3 billion worldwide and won 17 Academy Awards between them

Following their success, Tolkien's earlier work The Hobbit was also brought to life and controversially split into three films: An Unexpected Journey, The Desolation of Smaug and The Battle Of Five Armies.

Martin Freeman led the pictures as Bilbo Baggins, a hobbit who joined a group of dwarves including Richard Armitage's Thorin, James Nesbitt's Bofur and Aidan Turner's Kili, seeking to reclaim their mountain home.

The films also starred Benedict Cumberbatch, Sylvester McCoy, Luke Evans, Evangeline Lilly and Lee Pace.

Full of adventure and mystical beasts like dragons, the Hobbit films also proved a financial success, earning an average of $980 million each at the box office. 

Tale: Following their success, Tolkien's earlier work The Hobbit was also brought to life and controversially split into three films: An Unexpected Journey, The Desolation of Smaug and The Battle Of Five Armies (above Martin Freeman as Bilbo Baggins)