She shan't go to the ball: Emma Watson turns down role in Kenneth Branagh's Cinderella

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Eric Garcia

Washington Bureau Chief

The slipper doesn't fit for Emma Watson who has turned down the title role in Kenneth Branagh’s new film Cinderella.

The Harry Potter star was rumoured to be in talks with Disney about starring in the film, however Variety reports she has turned down the role.

Cate Blanchett has agreed to play Cinderella’s evil step mother and is still attached to the project.

The film is part of a new series of Disney dramas following Tim Burton’s Alice in Wonderland, Sam Raimi’s Oz: The Great And Powerful, and Robert Stromberg’s upcoming Maleficent, starring Angelina Jolie as sleeping beauty’s evil nemesis.

Cinderella has been in development for two years, with screenplay drafts completed by Twilight: New Moon’s Chris Weitz and The Devil Wears Prada’s Aline Brosh McKenna.

Disney also considered Saoirse Ronan (Atonement) Gabriella Wilde (The Three Musketeers) and Alicia Vikander (Anna Karenina) for the role, but could not sign the actresses due to their other commitments.

Watson starred in The Perks of Being a Wallflower last year and will next appear in Darren Aronofsky’s Noah alongside Russell Crowe.

Cinderella is due to be released in 2014.