Once upon a time, there was a little girl named Emma Watson who really, really, really loved Disney’s 1991 animated classic, Beauty and the Beast. “I can’t even think how many times I watched it as a child,” says the former Harry Potter star. “I knew all the words by heart. I knew all the songs by heart.”
Watson was hardly the only person to become obsessed with this songs-filled tale of a self-possessed young woman named Belle and a prince-turned-beast who must find his true love before the final petal falls from an enchanted rose. Beauty and the Beast was the third-highest-grossing film of 1991 and the first animated feature ever nominated for a best picture Oscar. While the film lost out in that category to the slightly less romantic Silence of the Lambs, it did win Academy Awards for best score and best song. Beauty and the Beast also inspired a stage musical, which ran on Broadway for 13 years.
Now, Watson has put her love for — and knowledge of — the film to uniquely productive use. She is playing Belle in a new live-action remake of Beauty and Beast, which will be released March 17 and costars Dan Stevens (Downton Abbey) as the Beast, Luke Evans (The Hobbit) as Belle’s egomaniacal suitor Gaston, and Josh Gad (Frozen) as Gaston’s sidekick, Le Fou. For this week’s cover story, EW visited the film’s U.K. set and spoke with all of the above, as well as director Bill Condon and costume designer Jacqueline Durran, who talked about creating the new version of the iconic yellow dress Belle wears in the original film’s ballroom scene. In addition, we chatted with Ewan McGregor, who voices the enchanted, “Be Our Guest”-performing candelabra Lumière, and Sir Ian McKellen, who plays the clock Cogsworth and was apparently desperate to get his own big production number. “I kept singing what I thought would be a rather good addition to the score,” says the X-Men franchise star. “‘My name is Cogsworth!/ And I’m a clock!/Ticktock!’ But I didn’t get my own song.”
Readers can also find out about the film’s new songs — penned by Alan Menken and Tim Rice — and feast their eyes on an array of exclusive photos featuring all of the aforementioned characters as well as Belle’s father, Maurice (Kevin Kline), Mrs Potts. (Emma Thompson), and Plumette (Gugu Mbatha-Raw).
Can’t get enough of aristocrats? Then you should definitely check out this issue’s profile of Matt Smith. The British actor made his name as the star of Doctor Who but has now abandoned the TARDIS for Buckingham Palace to play the Duke of Edinburgh in Netflix’s new show, The Crown. We also have fashion designer royalty in the shape of Tom Ford, who talks about his second film as director, the Amy Adams-starring Nocturnal Animals.
Finally: Can we get a drum roll, please? Last weekend, a host of pop culture kings and queens, princes and princesses descended on The Reef in Los Angeles for the first ever EW PopFest. In this week’s issue, readers will find extensive coverage of the event, which included big stars like Jennifer Aniston, Eddie Redmayne, Anna Faris, Nick Jonas, Bad Santa 2 lead Billy Bob Thornton, Supernatural actors Jared Padelecki and Jensen Ackles, and the reunited cast of Happy Endings – who performed a specially-written catch-up episode.
Did the characters form the much-missed sitcom get to live happily ever after? You’ll have to pick up this week’s issue to find out!
For read more on Beauty and the Beast, pick up the new issue of Entertainment Weekly on stands Friday – and subscribe for more exclusive interviews and photos, only in EW.
13 comments:
At last Disney release something official. Hope this means more images and news will follow. Maybe a date for the UK premier I am assuming there will be one given the leads are both British and the scale of the film.
Trying to find a copy of the magazine. This moive is looking good Emma will be brilliant, gushing a bit perhaps but what the hell.
ella se ve genial...aunque me falta los guantes en el vestido... pero aun asi es maravilloso
big make or break moment for her
looking good though
OH MY GOD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! This is amazing!!!!!
Emma is so perfect, I love her yellow dress
I'm looking forward to see the trailer :)
Hello Eden!!! Thanks you for the photos. Do you know when we can see the trailer of the movie? many people say we can see the trailer, the 22nd of november, with the premeire of Vaiana
I can't wait. I hope the film is successful, and Emma's acted role is contributed to that success. She really needs this. Her imdb is not to good after HP, other than Colonia with a 7.2. She was good, a couple of times (with the camera in the apartment- ridiculous and her crying fit when Ursula lay dead in the woods.) It was obvious she was acting.
I an sure she will be great Colonia did well considering the distribution weirdness. Emma was brilliant in my opinion of course we are none of experts in the field of acting so that is all it can be.
Sorry guys and gals,
but for me is her book club first! Because, I think her book club is very close to herself and not a part of great Institutions or Industries!
Sigh! When is the next movie. I don't necessariy track the book club, just not my interest in literature, but Maya Angelou is a classic of good literature. I have read all her works.
Well, I guess the opinion of the fans or non fans if someone is adequate in a role can be determined by any individual that understands human nature, normal, abnormal and anormal behavior.Portraying these facets of a role in a natural role is the Ocar award avenue. I may not agree with some of the films nominated but each of the actors nominated and won were excellent in their way. I wish that for Emma.
Cool new blog layout Eden! Love the whole goth vibe ^
Great pics and it will be a great film. I read comments around some feel Emma is not beautiful enough to play Belle or lively enough. LOL. They don't know how alive and vibrant she is and Belle isn't supposed to be a crazy wild country girl.
Lovely, simply love! thanks Eden
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