by: S. Scott Stanikmas

Much like how Marvel has seemingly laid claim to early-May as their go-to release date for their tentpole superhero features, so to has Disney with early-to-mid-March and their live-action fairy tale adaptations, or so it would seem.

The live-action reimagining of the 1991 animated classic Beauty and the Beast now has an official release date. The House of Mouse has put their flag down and claimed March 17, 2017 as the day when Belle and friends will hit the nearest multiplex.

Already cast are Emma Watson as Belle, Dan Stevens as The Beast, Luke Evans as Gaston and Josh Gad as Lefou.

But new members were added as well. Kevin Kline and Emma Thompson will also join the fairy tale cast. Kline will play Maurice, Belle’s father. Meanwhile Thompson will play the part of cook and housekeeper Mrs. Potts.

The Bill Condon-directed, Stephen Chbosky scripted feature will implement live actors as well as some CGI. Alan Menken, who won a pair of Oscars for the original animated feature, will return to score the new film. Along with some of the tried-and-true classics from the cartoon version, Menken and Sir Tim Rice will be creating some new songs as well.