Disney Taps Twilight’s Bill Condon for a Live Action Beauty and the Beast Adaptation

Steve Barton   |  

Jun 7, 2014

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Unless they go really dark and focus a lot more on the beast than the beauty, our coverage of Disney’s live action version of the popular fairy tale Beauty and the Beast will no doubt be sparse, but in light of the film’s director, we figured we’d at least make you aware of it.

Per Variety, Bill Condon, who knows a thing or two about blockbusters, having helmed The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn – Parts 1 and 2, has been set to direct a script by Evan Spiliotopoulos with Mandeville Films producing.

With Maleficent‘s recent $170 million (worldwide) opening weekend, you can bet Disney is hoping for more of the same. Beauty and the Beast has a strong track record already: The studio’s 1991 animated feature version grossed more than $375 million worldwide, spawned a Broadway play, and became one of the few animated films to receive a best picture Oscar nomination.

Given the success of the play, one wonders if Spiliotopoulos, Condon, et all will go in the direction of a musical. Aside from the Twi-Hards, Condon is best known for his adaptation of Dreamgirls so with his experience things could really go either way.

We’ll keep our eyes open for some interesting casting news along the lines of Angelina Jolie’s memorable turn as the aforementioned Maleficent and more pertinent details, if any.

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