Orlando Bloom's Irreverent 'Three Musketeers 3D'

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Orlando Bloom plays the heavy in the new The Three Musketeers 3D, in theaters October 21, and he says "there's a lot of irreverence" in the action-adventure spectacle.

"We're updating the story by giving it a fresh take, a kind of almost contemporary feel," Orlando tells ET. "Of course, you're wearing period-esque costumes, and period sets, but we're really giving it a contemporary flavor … and I think that's what makes it fun."

In The Three Musketeers 3D, Logan Lerman (Percy Jackson & The Olympians: The Lightning Thief ) plays the young D'Artagnan, who teams up with wily musketeers Athos, Porthos and Aramis (Matthew MacFadyen, Ray Stevenson and Luke Evans) to prevent the villainous Cardinal Richelieu (Inglorious Basterds baddie Christoph Waltz) from seizing the French throne and engulfing Europe in war.

Inspired by the "incredible locations," sets and "great costumes" of the film, Orlando says with a smile, "It's kind of like we've been given the keys to the kingdom."

In a bit of a departure from his heroic roles in Pirates of the Caribbean and The Lord of the Rings, Orlando plays the dastardly Duke of Buckingham, and he explains, "He's a cad, he's a rogue … he's arrogant, he's like a petulant child. … I don't draw a sword, I don't even throw a punch -- I just have a few tantrums, which should be fun."

The exciting update of Alexandre Dumas' classic 17th century adventure is directed by Paul W.S. Anderson (Alien vs. Predator, Death Race) and also stars Mads Mikkelsen as Rochefort and Milla Jovovich as M'lady De Winter.

"It's a timely story about camaraderie – all for one, one for all," explains Orlando. "It's got everything that you want for a great action-adventure, comedic thing. … There's a lot of irreverence to this script – it doesn't take itself seriously in the slightest."