Fans still have to wait it out until next year before they can finally watch the live-action version of Beauty and the Beast on the big screen, but Disney gave the world a glimpse of the new movie with the launch of the first official trailer this week.
The preview includes a series of scenes faithful to the original 1991 animated film, showing Emma Watson as Belle dancing with Dan Stevens as the Beast, Kevin Kline perfectly capturing the character of Belle’s father, and Luke Evans portraying Gaston as he is shown getting ready to hunt down the Beast. Plus, viewers get a glimpse of the live-action versions of the castle’s beloved objects: Emma Thompson plays Mrs. Potts, Ian McKellan is Cogsworth and Ewan McGregor plays Lumiere. Amazing!
In a recent interview with Entertainment Weekly, Watson remembers her character always being a role model for her. “There was something about her indignation and rebelliousness which I really loved, to be honest. It troubles her that she doesn’t necessarily fit in, but I think she really holds close to her heart her dreams and her aspirations. She was definitely a role model,” the actress affirmed. Emulating these qualities herself, Watson is well known for her work as a public promoter of gender equality, and in 2014, she was appointed as a U.N. Women Goodwill Ambassador.
She also explained that her character Belle in the new movie is more realistic than the origional animated movie. In the first film, for example, it is Maurice who is the inventor of the family, while in the new version Belle assumes the role. “We tried to tweak things to make her more proactive, and a bit less carried along by the story and a bit more in charge of — and in control of — her own destiny.”
The movie will be on screen March 17, 2017; watch the trailer below.