Beauty and the Beast star Emma Watson is sharing an idea for a sequel to the blockbuster movie musical – or at least a premise to kick it off. In the six weeks since its March 17 release, Beauty and the Beast has taken the worldwide box office by storm, earning more than $1.1 billion. Naturally, with such massive returns, Disney has begun trying to figure out if there’s a way to continue the tale as old as time, on the big screen.
Studio production head Sean Bailey, says at best a Beauty and the Beast prequel or spinoff is possible, but has ruled out the idea of a sequel. Still, cast members seem open to a sequel – including Watson – and fans want a follow up, too.
In an interview with Access Hollywood (see the video below), Watson says she’s unaware of the buzz on social media about fans’ hopes for a Beauty and the Beast sequel, but she says she “would love” to do Beauty and the Beast 2 someday. Offering up an idea for a premise, Watson says:
“I always thought that Belle had become a teacher and she would run the library in the castle, and open it up to the village. This is where I was going. “
Since Belle’s introduction to the library by the Beast was an emotional turning point in the film for the character, maybe Watson is onto something. The good thing is, if Disney were to explore picking up the story from the end of Beauty and the Beast, they also have the support of the Beast himself, Dan Stevens. This past week, Stevens said he’s “open to offers” for a Beauty and the Beast sequel, and while his cursed prince character regained his human form at the thrilling conclusion of the first movie, he would “kind of like to bring the Beast back.”
There’s no question that director Bill Condon’s live-action version of Beauty and the Beast has been a lucrative re-imagining of Disney’s 1991 animated classic. Not only does the film introduce new characters, original composer Alan Menken and lyricist Tim Rice (stepping in for the late Howard Ashman) composed memorable new songs like Stevens’ tour de force performance of “Evermore” – signaling that the movie could build on the Beast mythos, without taking away the spirit of the original.
Of course, the Mouse House would have to come up with a strong story (paging Emma Watson), but there’s no doubt with all the right creative elements in place, Beauty and the Beast 2 is something that Disney may strongly consider. The idea of a sequel may just boil down to one simple question: “Why not?”
Source: Access Hollywood
Unexpected Team-Up: Prince William and Emma Watson Unite for Change
Prince William had plenty to celebrate this weekend, but his latest public appearance quickly turned heads for a very different reason. After marking his 44th birthday and Father's Day with his family, the future king returned to royal duties—and made a surprisingly personal confession about the emotional toll of climate change.
William joined Hollywood stars Emma Watson and Benedict Cumberbatch at a United for Wildlife forum in London, an initiative he launched with the Royal Foundation in 2013. The organization works around the world to combat wildlife trafficking, environmental crime, and the destruction of endangered species.
But it was William's candid admission about his own fears that stole the spotlight.
The Prince of Wales revealed that climate change has caused him "sleepless nights," admitting he has struggled with anxiety about what the future could look like. Yet instead of allowing those fears to overwhelm him, William said seeing real progress through conservation efforts has helped keep his environmental anxiety under control.
He also delivered a powerful message to business leaders, urging them to become the kind of leaders they admired when they were children. With technology and innovation transforming the world at an incredible pace, William challenged CEOs to use their influence to create meaningful change.
The event launched London Climate Action Week, with more royal appearances expected, including the Earthshot Prize assembly.
Emma Watson also delivered a surprising revelation of her own. The Harry Potter star highlighted the fashion industry's enormous environmental impact, pointing out that it produces more emissions than aviation and ranks behind only oil among major polluting industries.
Watson, who is also pursuing a doctorate in philosophy at Oxford, shared a hilarious story about mistakenly believing paparazzi were following her. After spotting photographers with telephoto lenses, she arranged a distraction and escaped through another exit. The twist? They weren't photographing her at all. They were waiting to capture a red kite.
Meanwhile, Benedict Cumberbatch praised William as "a great guy" and urged businesses and individuals to recognize that they can still make a difference, even when global environmental challenges appear overwhelming.
With William, Watson, and Cumberbatch joining forces on the issue, the London forum delivered a clear message: the fight against environmental destruction is becoming impossible for the world's biggest names to ignore.
Be the first to comment on this article!