Beauty and the Beast is one of Disney’s best loved films, and a favorite of many. It is for this reason that many are looking forward to the release of the new live-action version with a mixture of excitement and concern. The casting for the film seems almost perfect; Emma Watson as Belle, Emma Thompson as Mrs. Potts, Ewan McGregor as Lumiere and Ian McKellen as Cogsworth are just some of the big names to feature in the movie, which promises to pay a respectful homage to the 1991 animated version. The original score will feature, too, along with 3 new songs written by original songwriter/composer Alan Menken, with Tim Rice in place of the late Howard Ashman. So on that side of things, excitement is definitely the right adjective.
However, the concern lies in the fact that Beauty and the Beast is so well-known, and so well-loved, that many are wondering if this new version will be able to match or even come close to delivering the magic that the original gave us. Many of us grew up with Beauty and the Beast and, in a pre-digital age, spent many hours watching and re-watching the movie on VHS. One of Beauty and the Beast’s biggest fans is undoubtedly Watson, who has said several times that being cast as Belle is a dream come true. The actress has now expanded upon that in the short clip, featured above.
Describing Belle as a “feisty young woman who spoke her mind,” Watson says she fell in love with the character, and describes getting to play her as “amazing.” Watson also points out that when you love something that much, you really want to do it justice, and it seems as though she really has put her heart and soul into playing the role. In fact, Watson has also had a hand in developing Belle’s backstory for this new version of Beauty and the Beast,
giving her even more depth and independence than she had in the 1991 animated version.
In the original animated film, Belle’s father, Maurice, is an inventor, but this time around he’s a music box maker, while Belle herself is busy inventing a washing machine that lets her sit and read while it cleans the clothes (how very modern) – though, as Watson says, Belle has always been thought of as a strong woman. This time around Watson has given her more strength and a streak of defiance, too, which will certainly be fun to watch in her scenes with Gaston (Luke Evans).
Undoubtedly, there will be those who want Beauty and the Beast to faithfully recreate the animated movie, and, indeed, trailers and teasers released so far have all played out exactly the same as those released in 1991; but at the same time, it’s refreshing to see something new added to it all. Certainly, our attitude toward equality for women has moved on since then, and so it seems only right and fitting that someone with the intelligence and sensibility of Watson should want to add more to the Belle character in that regard. Let’s hope, then, that any additions, be it extra dimensions to characters, new songs, or extended scenes, only serve to enhance the classic tale as old as time.
Source: Disney (via JoBlo)
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!