Ewan McGregor Joins 'Beauty and the Beast'

Update: Variety is reporting that Stanley Tucci has also joined the cast of Beauty and the Beast as Cadenza, a new character created specifically for the live action film. Cadenza is a grand piano who is described as a “neurotic maestro,” which, yes, definitely sounds like a Tucci character.

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It seems as though audiences aren’t the only ones taken with Disney’s new live action offerings, as the studio has been attracting some wonderful talent for their upcoming projects. So far, Beauty and the Beast has assembled a rather charming cast, including Emma Watson, Dan Stevens and Sir Ian McKellen. Disney has just added another charming name to that roster: Ewan McGregor.

THR reports that the actor has been cast as Lumiere, the delightful French candle who famously serenades Belle with “Be Our Guest” in Disney’s animated Beauty and the Beast. It was previously revealed that the new live action version would include a couple of new songs, which means maybe one or two of the original songs might get the boot — but there’s no way they’re making this film without “Be Our Guest.” No way, no how.

Honestly, while McGregor is undeniably talented and well-suited for the job of charming candlestick, I can’t help but feel as though Disney kind of dropped the ball here. French actor Jean Dujardin isn’t just perfect for the role of Lumiere — he is Lumiere. The guy is the live action version of the beloved animated candle, complete with Lumiere’s cocked eyebrows and playful sideways grin.

I’m sure McGregor will be great, as always, but Dujardin would have been absolutely impeccable casting.

McGregor joins Emma Watson as Belle, Dan Stevens as Beast, Ian McKellen as Cogsworth, Kevin Kline as Belle’s father, Emma Thompson as Mrs. Potts, Luke Evans as Gaston with Josh Gad as his sidekick Le Fou, and Audra McDonald as Garderobe.

Beauty and the Beast is scheduled for a March 17, 2017 release.