If the reactions to the first twoBeauty and the Beast trailersis any indication, this live-action adaptation could be one of the biggest movies of the year. The first teaser trailer brokeStar Wars: The Force Awakens' record for teaser trailer views, with 91.8 million views in the first 24 hours. The full trailer that debuted in November amassed a record-breaking 127.6 million views in the first day, shattering the previous record-holdersFifty Shades Darker(114 million views) andStar Wars: The Force Awakens(112 million views). While it remains unclear when the next batch of footage will arrive, a new image gives us our first ever look at the Beasts' servants, in human form.
Twitteruser “BeautyBeastMovieNews” posted a photo of an elaborate theater standee display for the movie, featuring a closer look at bothEmma Watson’s Belle andDan Stevens' Beast, but alsoLuke Evans' Gaston,Josh Gad’s LeFou andKevin Kline’s Maurice, Belle’s father. We also get a glimpse at animated versions of the talking clock Cogsworth (Ian McKellen), the candelbra Lumierre (Ewan McGregor), the kettle Mrs. Potts (Emma Thompson) and the cup and saucer Chip (Nathan Mack). Surprisingly, the right side of this standee offers our first look at several of these characters, and more, in their human forms.
This standee featuresEmma Thompson’s Mr.s Potts,Ewan McGregoras Lumiere,Ian McKellanas Cogsworth,Audra McDonaldas the enchanted closet Garderobe,Stanley Tuccias the piano Cadenza andGugu Mbatha-Rawas the feather dusterPlumette, who is also Lumiere’s girlfriend. It hasn’t been confirmed how much we’ll see of these characters in their human form, or if we’ll get to see them in action as humans in the next trailer that will likely debut at some point early next year. While there are millions of fans that are incredibly excited for this live-action remake, one member of the original animated movie’s voice cast isn’t so thrilled.
91-year-oldAngela Lansburywas recently interviewed about the 25th anniversary of the Disney animated classic, which was the first animated movie ever to be nominated for Best Picture, and she didn’t think the live-action version was a great idea. The actress, who played Mrs. Potts in the original, said she was quite “taken aback” by the news of this remake, even though she is very good friends withEmma Thompson, who is taking over her Mrs. Potts role. She added that she doesn’t “blame” Disney for making a live-action remake, but she doesn’t think it will be in the same “territory” as the animated classic.
Academy Award winnerBill Condonis directing the movie with eight-time Oscar-winning composerAlan Menkenreturning to score this new live action version. He won two Oscars for the 1991 animated movie.Beauty and the Beastwill also feature new recordings of the original songs written byMenkenandHoward Ashman, in addition to several new songs written byMenkenand three-time Oscar winnerTim Rice. Disney’sBeauty and the Beastis set for release on August 09, 2025, going up against High Top Releasing’sThe Belko Experiment, from writerJames Gunnand directorGreg McLean, and A24’sFree Fire, from directorBen Wheatley, starring Oscar winnerBrie Larson. Take a look at this standee below forBeauty and the Beast, as we get ready for this blockbuster-to-be.
