Disney has released the first full-length trailer for the upcoming live adaptation of its classic “Beauty and the Beast” and it brings to life the tale as old as time that everyone loved.
Back in May, fans already had the chance to see the live versions of Belle and the Beast, played by “Harry Potter” alum Emma Watson and “Downton Abbey” star Dan Stevens through a short teaser.
In August, a poster of Stevens as the eponymous Beast was also released. A few days before the trailer dropped, Watson tweeted a new poster for the film showing a silhouette of the two lead characters.
The new two-minute clip gives a glimpse of other iconic characters in the film such as Lumiere, Cogsworth, Chip, Mrs. Potts, and the villain Gaston.
Ewan McGregor voices Lumiere the candelabra, while Ian McKellen voices Cogsworth the clock. Emma Thompson lends her voice to give life to Mrs. Potts the teapot, and Nathan Mack voices Chip, Mrs. Potts’ son.
The updated CGI makes the animated characters seem more alive and suited for a contemporary audience. Fans who grew up with the original animated film will find it amusing as well.
The trailer first shows how Belle becomes a prisoner of the Beast in order to save her father Maurice, played by Kevin Kline.
Disney doesn’t seem to be keen on wrapping the plot of the story as it is a modern retelling of the old tale. Reports say that Disney will use the same approach they did with Cinderella.
It then cuts to scenes of the iconic dancing scene between the two, nailing a perfect remake of the 1991 animated film.
Fans then get to see a first glimpse of the walking and talking candlestick, clock, cup, and teapot. It then shows the growing romance between Belle and the Beast cutting in between action scenes involving Luke Evans’ Gaston.
It also highlights the scene where the Beast saved Belle from a pack of wolves, and Belle finding the rose and the petals falling.
One factor that was missing with the trailer is the characters singing classic songs such as “Be Our Guest” and “Beauty and the Beast.”
Entertainment Weekly notes that the songs are kept at bay so fans could look forward to how the actors and Disney approached the classic songs.
Directed by Bill Condon, the upcoming movie will have a rendition of all the songs, while adding several new ones. Composers Alan Menken and Tim Rice clarified that the movie will not feature songs that were made for the Broadway musical version.
The film also stars Josh Gad as Lefou, Stanley Tucci as Maestro Cadenza, Gugu Mbatha-Raw as Plumette, and Audra McDonald as Madame Garderobe.
The trailer received positive reviews with fans saying they cannot wait for March 17, 2017 to see the film. The film will be released in Digital 3D, Real D 3D, and IMAX 3D formats.
The original film was the first animated movie to receive an Academy Award nomination for Best Picture. Unlike Disney’s past efforts with their remakes, “Beauty and the Beast” will be a full musical, featuring the original songs from the animated classic.
The upcoming film is Disney’s addition to the recent string of updated and reinvented classics. In the past few years, the Mouse House had great success with titles like “Maleficent,” “Cinderella,” and “The Jungle Book.”
The film is expected to be a box-office success and Disney is already lining up a live-action “Lion King” to be directed by Jon Favreau, the same person who helmed “The Jungle Book.”
“Lion King” is also expected to feature the animated movie’s original songs such as “Can You Feel the Love Tonight” and “Hakuna Matata.”