7 Jun – With the success of "Maleficent" in cinemas, Walt Disney Studio is setting up "The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn – Parts 1 & 2" director, Bill Condon to lead the live-action remake of "Beauty and the Beast". The original "Beauty and the Beast" animation was released in 1991 by Walt Disney Pictures and was directed by Gary Trousdale and Kirk Wise. According to Variety, the film grossed more than USD$375 million worldwide and became one of the few animated pictures to receive a best picture Oscar nomination.
Disney's Tim Burton's directed "Alice in Wonderland" and the recently released "Maleficent" which is a retelling of Disney's 1959, "Sleeping Beauty", have thus far received a good reception from audiences. This time "Beauty and the Beast' is joining the animation-to-live-action projects along with several other upcoming release such as "Cinderella" and "The Jungle Book" which are soon to be release in 2015. Additionally, the sequel of "Alice in Wonderland"; "Through The Looking Glass" will be release in 2016. There are also rumours speculating that a live-action film inspired by Disney's "101 Dalmatians" entitled "Cruella" is in development. Currently, there is still not much information on the production of the remake "Beauty and the Beast" as it is still in planning stages. In other news, Warner Bros studio has got "Hellboy" director Guillermo del Toro to direct their live-action version of "Beauty and the Beast" with Harry Potter actress, Emma Watson reportedly in it.