Disney’s Live-Action ‘Beauty and the Beast’ Gets a New Writer and Script

Last Spring, Disney had announced that they were in the process of putting together a live-action retelling of Beauty and the Beast. This was not unexpected given the successful track record Disney has had so far with live-action retellings of classic films from their library.

But since then, the project has went through a myriad of changes. Bill Condon (Dreamgirls, Breaking Dawn Part 1 & 2, The Fifth Estate) is now set to direct the film (after LouAnne Brickhouse left Disney back in the fall of 2013) and an initial script draft was written by Evan Spiliotopoulos (Hercules) where originally it was Joe Ahearne (Trance). Now we have news of the film’s script duties shifting hands yet again.

Screen Rant reported that the screenplay is being rewritten by Stephen Chbosky, an author and filmmaker best known for his adaptation of his own YA novel The Perks of Being a Wallflower. The adaptation in particular starred Emma Watson, who also happens to be attached to Warner Bros.’ version of Beauty and the Beast (Guillermo Del Toro stepped down as director earlier this year).

It’s not known whether or not the film will take a musical approach. It’s possible, given that both Condon and Chbosky have had experience with musicals (Chbosky wrote the movie adaptation of Rent). Given that previous live-action retellings from Disney were notably devoid of any musical performances, it’s only fair to expect that this won’t have any either.

The film joins Disney’s current upcoming slate of live-action fairy tale adaptations, such as Kenneth Branagh’s Cinderella, Jon Favreau’s The Jungle Book, and the upcoming sequel to Tim Burton’s Alice in Wonderland.

What do you think of the live-action ‘Beauty and the Beast’ developments? Any opinions on the film now that we have a new writer on board?