AceShowbiz -

On heels of "Cinderella" triumphant debut at the box office, Disney books a release date for their upcoming live-action adaptation of "Beauty and the Beast (2017)". Two actors, Emma Thompson and Kevin Kline, are also added to the cast ensemble of the new take on the classic fairytale.

The movie is scheduled to make its way out on March 17, 2017. No other movies are set for the same date, but the likes of "The Wolverine 3" is set for March 3, "Kong: Skull Island" and "Captain Underpants" for March 10, as well as "Allegiant - Part 2" for March 24.

Thompson is tapped to play Mrs. Potts and Kline is expected to portray Beauty's father, Maurice. They are joined by Emma Watson who is cast as the titular Belle, Dan Stevens as the Prince/Beast, Luke Evans as villainous Gaston, and Josh Gad as his sidekick LeFou.

Bill Condon ("Dreamgirls") directs the film, Stephen Chbosky ("The Perks of Being a Wallflower") writes the script drafted by Evan Spiliotopoulos. Alan Menken, who won two Academy Awards for the 1991 animated classic, will score the film. He is expected to record the original songs and craft several new ones with Sir Tim Rice.

Watson will show off her vocal chops in the movie. "I sing, so that's really unexpected. I've never had to do that for a film role before, and I think people will be interested to see me do something very different like that. It gives me a different challenge, really. That's terrifying in and of itself!" she previously told Total Film.