Hey guys! Horrorella here...
The Wrap is reporting that Emma Watson has signed on to play Belle in Disney's upcoming live-action adaptation of BEAUTY AND THE BEAST. This is the latest in a string of beloved childhood animated favorites that Disney has been filming as live-action films, including MALEFICENT, the upcoming CINDERELLA, and one of the two JUNGLE BOOK adaptations currently in development (in this case, it's the one being directed by Jon Favreau).
Sounds kind of familiar, doesn't it? That's because this isn't the first time Watson has been cast in this role. She was previously going to lead a simliar project for Warner Bros. to be helmed by Guillermo del Toro. Eventually, he stapped away and decided not to direct, and the whole think kind of fell apart.
But now that Disney is stepping forward with its own version, they clearly decided that del Toro had a great idea in the casting department, and is following his lead by bringing Watson aboard. Bill Condon (GODS AND MONSTERS, THE TWILIGHT SAGA: BREAKING DAWN) will be directing the film from a script written by Stephen Chbosky (THE PERKS OF BEING A WALLFLOWER).
Watson couldn't be more excited to be taking on such an iconic role. Via Facebook:
