[dropcap size=small]E[/dropcap]mma Watson will star as Belle in Disney’s live-action adaptation of Beauty and the Beast, the Harry Potter actress confirms via a Facebook post after the studio’s official announcement.
The film is being directed by Billy Condon, who directed the last two Twilight Saga films. No expected release date has been announced.
Disney released Beauty and the Beast as an animated feature in 1991, and since then it has grossed $145 million domestically upon its various releases. It is also the basis for a hit Broadway show that premiered in 1994.
Beauty and the Beast is the latest in the trend of Walt Disney Pictures adapting their animated classics into live-action films. Alice in Wonderland began the trend in 2010, and a live-action Cinderella film is set to premiere, March 13th of this year. Additionally, Jon Favreau is slated to direct a live-action version of The Jungle Book for an April 2016 release.
I’d officially like to throw my hat in the ring to audition for the role of the Beast.
What do you think of Emma Watson in the role of Belle? Are you looking forward to a live-action version of Beauty and the Beast? Let us know in the comments below!
