New ‘Beauty’ finds its Beast – and Gaston | CNN

British actress Emma Watson will be playing Belle in the forthcoming live-action version of "Beauty and the Beast," opposite Dan Stevens. But the venerable story has had plenty of versions already.

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'La Belle et la Bête' (1946) —

This 1946 French adaptation, starring Josette Day and Jean Marais, was directed by Jean Cocteau. The movie mostly stuck with the original tale, but Cocteau added a subplot involving Belle's suitor. In 1999, Roger Ebert added "La Belle et la Bête" to his "Greatest Movies" list for the Chicago Sun-Times.

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'Cannon Movie Tales: Beauty and the Beast' (1987) —

"Cannon Movie Tales: Beauty and the Beast" was released in 1987. The film stars John Savage and Rebecca DeMornay.

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'Beauty and the Beast' (1987-90) —

CBS's TV series "Beauty and the Beast" gave the fairy tale a modern makeover in 1987. The drama series explores the relationship between an assistant district attorney (Linda Hamilton) and noble lion-man Vincent (Ron Perlman) in a world where an underground society of outcasts is in conflict with New York.

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'Beauty and the Beast' (1991) —

The 1991 animated feature by Walt Disney is one of the most famous and commercially successful adaptations. "Beauty and the Beast" received six Oscar nominations, winning Academy Awards for best original score and best original song.

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'Beastly' (2011) —

"Beastly," starring Vanessa Hudgens and Alex Pettyfer, is based on the novel of the same name. In this 2011 take, Pettyfer plays a wealthy and arrogant high school student in New York who is disfigured by a witch (Mary-Kate Olsen).

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'Beauty and the Beast' adaptations

Story highlights

Dan Stevens of "Downton Abbey" is to play the Beast

Luke Evans is cast as Gaston in the live-action film

Emma Watson is playing Belle

CNN —

“Beauty” has found its Beast.

The new live-action “Beauty and the Beast,” which cast Emma Watson as Belle, will also star “Downton Abbey’s” Dan Stevens as the Beast.

Watson herself welcomed her co-star on board after the news was reported in the Hollywood Reporter.

The animated Disney character was voiced by Robby Benson in the 1991 film.

The film, to be directed by Bill Condon (“Gods and Monsters,” the final two “Twilight” films), also named its Gaston, the conniving lout who pursues Belle, though she resists his advances. He’ll be played by Luke Evans, a musical theater veteran who starred as Bard the Bowman in Peter Jackson’s “Hobbit” films.

After Watson tweeted her congratulations, Evans immediately responded with a side-by-side set of photos of him and the animated character. The resemblance was striking.

Now, if only Disney will cast Lumiere, Mrs. Potts, Cogsworth and the rest, we’ll have a real movie on our hands.

No release date for “Beauty and the Beast” has been announced, and filming has yet to begin.