Disney Pictures has just announced that the live-action film "Beauty and the Beast" will hit theaters on March 17, 2017. Along with the release date announcement, the studio also revealed that Emma Thompson and Kevin Kline have both signed on for the film.
Thompson, a two-time Academy Award winner and quite famous for playing Professor Sybill Trelawney in the "Harry Potter" franchise, will be playing the role of Mrs. Potts. Kline, on the other hand, will portray Maurice, Belle's father. Kline is most popular for his Academy-award winning performance in "A Fish Called Wanda," and he previously did voice acting work for films such as "The Hunchback of Notre Dame" and "The Nutcracker."
Josh Gad has also been confirmed to play LeFou. Gad won fans over in a previous Disney film, "Frozen," where he voiced the animated snowman Olaf. Meanwhile, Luke Evans was recently announced to portray the antagonist Gaston.
The notable actors will be joining a cast led by Emma Watson as Belle. She will play opposite "Downton Abbey's" Dan Stevens, who will take on the role of the Beast.
Watson expressed her enthusiasm for the recent addition to the cast.
On her Twitter account, she posted, "Could not be more happy that this man will be Beast!!! Welcome aboard @thatdanstevens #beautyandthebeast."
Music is one of the most important aspects of any Disney film, and the company also confirmed that Alan Menken will return to handle this live-action rendition of the animated classic. Menken was the person responsible for the Academy-winning songs from the 1991 animated "Beauty and the Beast."
"Beauty and the Beast" will be directed by Bill Condon, based on a screenplay penned by Stephen Chbosky. Production is expected to begin in May at the London Shepperton Studios. The film will be available in 3D as well as the standard 2D format.
