Harry Potter actress Emma Watson has been cast to play the lead character Belle in Disney’s live-action version of Beauty and the Beast.
The film will be directed by Bill Condon (The Twilight Saga: Break Dawn – Part 1 and Part 2), who was announced as director back in June. David Hoberman and Todd Lieberman of Mandeville Films are producing.
Watson shared the news on her Facebook page, writing: “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.”
The animated feature of Beauty and the Beast was released in 1991 and grossed more than $145 million domestically and $425 million worldwide. The title was also on Broadway in 1994.
The live-action fairy tale is yet another title to add to the list of re-imagined classics, of those including Alice in Wonderland (2010) and Snow White and the Huntsman (2013), and Maleficent (2014). Cinderella, starring Downton Abbey’s Lily James as the fairy tale princess, will hit theaters on March 13 of this year, with a Jon-Favreau-directed live-action version of Jungle Book set for April 2016.
According to a statement from Disney, production for Beauty and the Beast is expected to begin later in 2015. No release date has been set.
