Disney have today announced that Sir Ian McKellan, famous for his role as Magneto in the X-Men saga and to be seen later this year in Mr. Holmes, has signed on to play Cogsworth in their new, live-action Beauty and the Beast remake.

Cogsworth is the uppity butler to the Beast in the original Disney animation, first released in 1991, and is the sidekick to the fun-loving Lumière, the candlestick who sings the iconic ‘Be Our Guest’.

To be released in 2017, the Beauty and the Beast remake stars Emma Watson (Harry Potter) and Dan Stevens (Downton Abbey, Night at the Museum 3: Secret of the Tomb) as Belle and the Beast, respectively, and will be directed by Bill Condon. Emma Thompson (Saving Mr. Banks) will play Mrs. Potts, whilst Luke Evans (The Hobbit) and Josh Gad (Frozen) will play evil Gaston and his clumsy sidekick, Le Fou, whilst Kevin Kline will play Belle’s father, Maurice.