Benedict Cumberbatch is to appear at Comic-Con in San Diego for the first time, to promote DreamWorks animation The Penguins Of Madagascar.

The Sherlock star voices Classified, a secret agent wolf, who is head of a covert protective force of animals, in the Madagascar spin-off , which sees the penguins on a mission to save their species.

Though Sherlock has been promoted at Comic-Con in the past, neither Benedict nor co-star Martin Freeman were in attendance.

Benedict may also stick around for the preview of Warner Bros The Hobbit: The Battle Of The Five Armies at the convention, as he voices dragon Smaug in the film.

The British actor will be joined on the Penguins panel by John Malkovich - who voices new villain octopus Octavius Brine - Tom McGrath, voice of lead penguin Skipper, and directors Simon J Smith and Eric Darnell.

DreamWorks announced its Comic-Con previews will also include animated movie Home, about aliens hiding on Earth, featuring the voices of Jim Parsons, Jennifer Lopez, Steve Martin and music from Rihanna, which is due for release next March.

Meanwhile, Deadline reported Star Wars: Episode VII will not be making an appearance at the convention.

Fans had hoped director JJ Abrams and some of the cast may be in attendance to celebrate the revival of the franchise and possible even preview some footage from the highly anticipated reboot.

But sources close to the production and at Comic-Con said JJ and the cast, who are busy shooting the movie in London, will not be flying over.

There will however be a panel for new Disney XD animated TV series Star Wars Rebels.