Sir Ian McKellen is to play the role of enchanted clock Cogsworth in the live-action remake of Beauty And The Beast.
According to Variety, the 75-year-old Lord Of The Rings star is the latest in a string of British actors to sign up for the Disney project, which will be directed by Twilight: Breaking Dawn’s Bill Condon.
Harry Potter star Emma Watson has been cast as Belle, opposite Downton Abbey’s Dan Stevens as The Beast and The Hobbit star Luke Evans as arrogant villain Gaston.
The fairytale of Beauty And The Beast follows a young girl, Belle, who is given by her father to a beast who lives in an enchanted castle, where all his servants have been transformed into talking household objects such as clocks, teapots and candlesticks.
The Beast himself is actually a Prince, and if Belle falls in love with him, he will be transformed back into his previous form.
Emma Thompson has been cast as teapot Mrs Potts, while Kevin Kline will play Belle’s father Maurice.
Shooting is due to start later this year for release in March 2017.
It is the latest in a string of Disney live-action remakes, including the already released Maleficent and Cinderella and the upcoming takes on The Jungle Book, Dumbo and Pinocchio.
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