Emma Watson has been cast as the lead in Disney’s live-action version of Beauty and the Beast. The actor made the announcement herself in a Facebook post on 26 January.
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 released its animated version of Beauty and the Beast in 1991, when it became a box-office success as well as the first animated film to be nominated for the best picture Oscar. Three of its songs were nominated for Oscars, with its title song, Beauty and the Beast carrying off the award.
Watson’s post suggests that the new film, to be directed by Twilight: Breaking Dawn’s Bill Condon, 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, but no release date has been set.
