Disney has cast Emma Watson as Belle for a live-action Beauty and the Beast that will tentatively start production later this year.
Emma Watson is to play Belle - the lead in Disney’s live-action version of Beauty and the Beast. The actor made the announcement herself in a Facebook post on January 26.
Confirming that she will play the central role of Belle, Watson wrote that the original Disney cartoon “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.” She added: “My six-year-old self is on the ceiling – heart bursting. Time to start some singing lessons.”
Disney’s Beauty and the Beast was released in 1991 and instantly became a box-office success. It was also the first animated film to be nominated for the best picture Oscar category. Three of its songs were nominated for Oscars, with its title song, Beauty and the Beast carrying off the award.
The upcoming version is to be directed by Twilight: Breaking Dawn’s Bill Condon, and Watson’s post suggests that the new film, will stick closer than anticipated to Disney’s earlier version - in which the songs played a key part.
According to Variety, production is set to begin later in 2015. The film is expected to be released some time in 2016.
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