Bill Condon to direct Beauty and the Beast live-action remake
So much for sequels - Disney has settled on its own money-making approach
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Your support makes all the difference.As Hollywood film companies continue to churn out sequel after sequel, Disney has settled on its own foolproof money-making approach – live action remakes.
Following fast in the wake of Angelina Jolie’s global success Maleficent is Beauty and the Beast, set to be directed by Dreamgirls’ Bill Condon.
Disney’s 1991 animated original grossed more than $375 million worldwide to become one of few such films to earn an Oscars nomination for Best Picture.
Now, Belle and the Beast will make the leap already taken by Alice and Wonderland and The Wizard of Oz.
Evan Spiliotopoulos is on board to write the script while Mandeville Films will produce, Variety reports. As the project is in early days, it remains unknown who will be cast as the memorable characters.
Condon’s experience working on films with heavy musical elements should equip him well for Beauty and the Beast. He is also known for delivering two films in the popular Twilight franchise and writing the script for the big-screen adaptation of Chicago.
Meanwhile, Jon Favreau is due to direct a live-action version of The Jungle Book starring Idris Elba as tiger villain Shere Khan, while Kenneth Branagh is helming a reboot of Cinderella for next March.
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