Disney continues to move speedily along with their upcoming live-action musical Beauty and the Beast film. Two new cast members have the project today and we officially have a release date.
After many rumors, it’s confirmed that Emma Thompson (Harry Potter, Saving Mr. Banks, Sense and Sensibility) will be Mrs. Potts. She’s one of the great British actresses of the century and we think she’ll make a wonderful Mrs. Potts, able to be motherly and compassionate while still putting Lumiere and Cogsworth in their places.
If we’re casting the enchanted objects and continuing the trend of a British cast (except for Josh Gad), might I recommend David Tennant and Stephen Fry for Lumiere and Cogsworth, Disney?
Kevin Kline (The Hunchback of Notre Dame, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, A Fish Called Wanda) will play father to Emma Watson as Maurice, the inventor called crazy by the townspeople. Timothy Spall was previously rumored for the role.
Disney confirmed that the movie will feature the original songs from the 1991 animated film. There’s still no word if any of the Broadway songs will make the cut, but Thompson better get ready to sing the title song, as it’s one of the most moving moments in the whole story.
The film also has a release date: March 17, 2017. It will be released in 3D, with a mix of CGI and live-action.
Thompson and Kline join Emma Watson as Belle, Josh Gad as Lefou, and Luke Evans and Dan Stevens as Gaston and Beast, respectively.
What do you think of this casting? Are you more excited for the movie now? Let us know in the comments!
