British actor Michael Sheen will be taking a brief break from political dramas for a theme he’s become familiar with: vampires.

Although his name has become more familiar due to high-profile roles in Frost/Nixon and 2006’s The Queen (he played Prime Minister Tony Blair), Sheen will be heading back into more commercial fare. The 40-year-old is now the latest addition to The Twilight Saga: New Moon.

Sheen, a veteran of the Underworld films, has been cast to play Aro, the leader of the Volturi, the clan of Italian vampires. (Dakota Fanning has already been chosen to play Jane, a member of that same group.)

Director Chris Weitz stressed the importance of Michael’s role to the Daily Mail. “Aro is, on the surface, a very gracious and friendly vampire, but beneath that he is a tremendous threat,” he explained.

New Moon is scheduled for a November 20 release.