Ian McKellen, who has been busy promoting his new film Mr. Holmes, which is also directed by Bill Condon, once again discussed his upcoming role as Cogsworth in a pair of new interviews. Speaking with the Irish Examiner, McKellen described the butler turned clock as a "fantastic character" and spoke about the film's approach to the enchanted objects and Dan Steven's Beast.
“The cheek of it made me want to do it,” he says. “They had written this fantastic character. He is a butler that gets turned into a clock. It is based on the Disney animation, although here animation is used for the characters that the prince sees when he is under the spell.”
The prince-cum-beast, played by Dan Stevens, won’t be animated. “He will be a monster, a beast. Basically, I just have had to supply a voice and the animators will do the rest. Then, at the end of the film, the characters all turn back into their real selves and then I sing and dance in a Disney movie.”
The second interview is a segment of the June 12th episode of The Empire Film Podcast. McKellen briefly discusses Beauty and the Beast at a few points, beginning at the 51:03 mark (then again at 53:33, 56:12, and finally at 57:35).
While attending a fashion event in Italy, Luke Evan spoke very briefly to Women's Wear Daily about his role as Gaston in Beauty and the Beast.
Bulgari brand ambassador Luke Evans gamely posed for selfies and said he was flying back to London after the event as he is filming “Beauty and the Beast” with Emma Watson, out in 2017. “I play Gaston, it’s the most fun I’ve ever had,” he said.
Evans was very active on Instagram during the film's pre-porduciton period and shared a few behind the scenes photos back in April and May.
Director Bill Condon also had a few words about the film, which is currently in production at Shepperton Studios, during the London premiere of his new film Mr. Holmes (via IBT).
"It's big, you know! We're in our first month [of filming] and we've shot some numbers and they're kind of enormous and the sets are great! It's just been exciting to everybody. Getting to play with that incredible score and that beautiful story."
Watch carefully at the beginning of the video as Josh Gad zooms by in the background and Condon jokes about their time on set (You can also see their interaction in another video from the premiere). For more Beauty and the Beast, skip ahead to the 4:55 mark in the video.
UPDATE: Below is another video from the Mr. Holmes premiere with director Bill Condon.
"It's exciting. We're into our first month of shooting and it's been everyday, to be on these huge sets that represent the Beast's castle, to see these big musical numbers. We're all pinching ourselves. It's just been a very exciting, a very kind of realistic telling of that story.
Oh my god, I think she is going to blow everybody away. We've already done two of her musical numbers. She's a beautiful singer, a wonderful dancer. She's become one for this movie and she's just one of the hardest working people I've ever met. She's really just doing a beautiful job so far. As is Hattie Morahan, who's playing the Enchantress in the movie.
UPDATE: While Emma Watson has already filmed a few musical sequences, it seems Ian McKellen, who plays Cogsworth in the film, is up next (via Yahoo! News).
Ian McKellen on his musical talents:
“I can get by but I’m playing a clock, and clocks don’t sing frightfully well, so we’re OK,” the 76-year-old actor said.
Director Bill Condon on McKellen's abilities and the film's "thrilling" production:
“He’s already done a pre-recording of the score and he’s a natural,” he said.
Bill continued: “It’s going so well so far. We’re very lucky to have a great cast. It’s such pleasure, that great score. We’ve been shooting musical numbers every week, it’s been thrilling.”
“And next week, Sir Ian McKellen gets to make his singing and dancing debut.”
Ian McKellen recently appeared at the Regent Street Apple Store in London to take part in the "Meet the Actor" series and discuss his role in Mr. Holmes. While the event mostly focused on the upcoming Sherlock Holmes film, McKellen also discussed reuniting with director Bill Condon, Lord of the Rings, Shakespeare, and Beauty and the Beast.
The discussion about Beauty and the Beast begins around the 13:00 mark and the actor even breaks out into song with "Be Our Guest" and "Beauty and the Beast." In addition to McKellen serenading the audience, he also talks about singing with Ewan McGregor (Lumiere) and Emma Thompson, who, according to McKellen, plays a teapot "very convincingly" and has "a beautiful voice." He also briefly mentions Emma Watson, Dan Stevens, and Audra McDonald before the conversation turns back to Mr. Holmes.
Click here to listen to the podcast of the event.
