Well, this was only a matter of time. Word emerged over a year ago that Disney was planning a live-action version of their beloved “Beauty And The Beast,” and they had tapped “Trance” writer Joe Ahearne to pen the script for what was then simply going to be called “The Beast.” A little bit has changed since the, but the project is still firmly a go, and now has a director in place.
“Dreamgirls” and “The Fifth Estate” helmer Bill Condon will get behind the camera for this one, with spinoff veteran Evan Spiliotopoulos (“Tinker Bell and the Lost Treasure,” “The Little Mermaid: Ariel’s Beginning,” “Tarzan 2“) writing the script. Of course, plot details aren’t being revealed. But given the massive success of “Maleficent” over the weekend, the sorta live-action prequel to “Sleeping Beauty” and the arrival of the flesh and blood version of “Cinderella” next year, this is clearly the path Disney wants to go down, whether or not you dig it or not.
Frankly…whatever. It’s hard to get worked up about this stuff anymore, it’s just how Hollywood is doing things these days. If you don’t dig it, you can vote by not buying a ticket. But for everyone else, the question will be: who to play the film’s beauty and the beast? Of course, Disney has some competition with Guillermo Del Toro producing his own version of the tale, but considering that gig seems to be spinning its wheel, they probably aren’t too worried about it. [Variety]
