Disney isn't messing around when it comes to their live-action adaptations of popular animated features, especially given the kind of money Tim Burton's ALICE IN WONDERLAND and MALEFICENT brought in. The pace is only going to pick up as we have Kenneth Branagh's CINDERELLA right around the corner, thankfully promising a less CG-intensive affair judging by the trailer. We've known that Bill Condon (MR. HOLMES, DREAMGIRLS) was on-board to direct Disney's BEAUTY AND THE BEAST but now we have our first casting info regarding the beauty, and that would be Emma Watson
Emma Watson had this to say about it on her Facebook page:
I'm finally able to tell you… that I will be playing Belle in Disney's new live-action Beauty and the Beast! It was such a big part of my growing up, it almost feels surreal that I'll get to dance to 'Be Our Guest' and sing 'Something There'. My six year old self is on the ceiling – heart bursting. Time to start some singing lessons. I can't wait for you to see it.
This is very interesting to note as Watson was rumored to be up for Guillermo del Toro's iteration of the classic story (simply titled BEAST). While it was announced last year that del Toro would be producing instead of directing, Watson was still attached to star. This may not bode well for BEAST, or perhaps Emma Watson just wanted to get her Belle on a little bit sooner. Either way, Watson is officially taking on the role, just not in the BEAUTY AND THE BEAST flick we expected.
Production on BEAUTY AND THE BEAST is expected to begin later this year.
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