Watch the Beauty and the Beast Oscar Spot
Hey, did you catch the Oscars last night?
If so, you will be forgiven for perhaps overlooking this great new spot for Beauty and the Beast that dropped during one of the show's commerical breaks. The live-action re-telling of the studio’s animated classic is coming in just a few weeks (March 17 to be exact), with Emma Watson and Dan Stevens in your title roles. The film is not only a lush, live-action take on the classic tale, it also includes original music, updates to the score, and several new songs. These new recordings of the original songs are written by Alan Menken and Howard Ashman, with new songs by Menken and three-time Oscar winner Tim Rice. Josh Groban, John Legend and Ariana Grande are some of the superstar musicians who are adding their talents to the film's sound.
The film follows Belle (Watson), an independent young woman who is taken prisoner by a beast (Stevens) in his enchanted castle. The castle's staff (all sentient household items that were once people) help Belle see through the Beast’s monstrous exterior and see the heart and soul of a prince within.
Along with Watson and Stevens, Luke Evans joins as Gaston, the handsome, but shallow villager who woos Belle; Oscar winner Kevin Kline is Maurice, Belle’s eccentric, but lovable father; and Josh Gad plays Lefou, Gaston’s long-suffering aide-de-camp. The aforementioned castle staff are played by Ewan McGregor, as Lumière, Gugu Mbatha-Raw as Plumette, Ian McKellen as Cogsworth, Stanley Tucci as Cadenza, Audra McDonald as Garderobe, and Emma Thompson as Mrs. Potts.
Your director is Oscar winner Bill Condon.
Beauty and the Beast will be released in theaters on March 17.
