Disney has a full deck in line for their upcoming live-action remake of Beauty and the Beast, and the cast resume only grows bigger. Sir Ian McKellen joins Bill Condon's new movie as Cogsworth, the Beast's loyal butler and temperamental clock.
This casting news comes to Variety. In addition to Condon, Emma Watson is set as Belle, Dan Stevens is the titular Beast, Luke Evans will play the villain Gaston and Josh Gad signed on to be Gaston's buddy, Le Fou.
Also slated to give their talents to this new movie are Emma Thompson and Kevin Kline, who are booked to embody Belle's father Maurice and Mrs. Potts, respectively, and Audra McDonald as Garderobe, the talking/singing wardrobe closet.
Production on this new Beauty and the Beast begins later this year, with a May 17, 2017 release in check. It comes from a screenplay written by Evan Spiliotopoulos and Stephen Chbosky.
Beauty and the Beast is, of course, just one of multiple live-action remakes Disney has from their animated movies in the works, with others including Pinocchio, Winnie the Pooh, Mulan, Tim Burton's Dumbo and The Jungle Book.They are also remaking their live-action/animated crossover Pete's Dragon.
This is not the first time McKellen and Condon worked together, as the actor starred in Mr. Holmes, which is slated to be released on July 17.
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