Disney's Live-Action 'Beauty and the Beast' Gets Release Date

By Rebecca Ford

On the heels of the big opening of Disney’s Cinderella this past weekend, Disney has dated its live-action fairytale retelling Beauty and the Beast, for March 17, 2017.

Emma Watson is starring as Belle while Dan Stevens will play the Prince/Beast. Luke Evans will play the role of Gaston. Emma Thompson has joined the cast as Mrs. Potts and Kevin Kline as Belle’s father, Maurice. Production on the project, which will include some CG magic, will kick off in May at Shepperton Studios in London.

Bill Condon is directing from a script by Stephen Chbosky. Mandeville Films’ David Hoberman and Todd Lieberman are producing. Alan Menken, who won two Academy Awards for the 1991 animated classic, will score the film, which will feature new recordings of the original songs in addition to several new songs written by Menken and Sir Tim Rice.

Read More: The Best and Worst Adaptations of the Classic Fairytale (Photos)

Beauty and the Beast currently has the release date to itself.

Disney’s live-action Cinderella, starring Lily James, opened to $68 million domestically this past weekend. On the live-action remake front, Disney has a new version of The Jungle Book and the sequel to Alice in Wonderland in the pipeline.

Photo: AP Images/Invision