CATDOLL: Hermione becomes a princess! Emma Watson stars in Beauty and the Beast

"Hermione Granger" is about to transform from a Muggle to a Disney princess! British actress Emma Watson, who became famous for her role as Hermione Granger in the "Harry Potter" series, has recently signed a contract to star in Disney's latest live-action film "Beauty and the Beast", in which Emma will play Princess Belle.

"Beauty and the Beast" is Disney's second live-action adaptation of a classic animation from the last century, following "Maleficent", "Cinderella" and "The Jungle Book". The live-action version will draw on the music elements of the 1991 animated version, and some classic songs will be reinterpreted. Earlier today, Emma also shared the news through her official Facebook page. She said, "I grew up watching "Beauty and the Beast". Now I can sing 'Something There' and dance to 'Be Our Guest'. It's so unreal." In addition, she also revealed that she will start vocal training in preparation for this movie.

Emma will work with Steve Chbosky again after joining the cast. Chbosky is the original author, director and screenwriter of Emma's acclaimed transformation film "The Perks of Being a Wallflower" in the "post-Harry Potter" era. Disney has locked in the Golden Globe Award-winning musical "Dreamgirls" director Bill Condon for the live-action version of "Beauty and the Beast". Condon's previous directorial works also include the magical youth film "The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn".

A few years ago, Emma had planned to join the live-action version of "Beauty and the Beast" directed by Guillermo del Toro. At that time, the project was prepared by Warner, but due to the slow progress of Del Toro's script revision and other reasons, the filming was nowhere in sight. So, Emma officially withdrew from Warner's "Beauty and the Beast" last summer.

Emma Watson has just finished filming the anti-dictatorship film "Colony". Last Friday, she attended the Davos Economic Forum as a goodwill ambassador for UN Women and delivered a speech to promote the HeforShe project for gender equality. Disney's live-action version of "Beauty and the Beast" is scheduled to start production later this year, and the release date has not yet been determined.