Beauty and the Beast (2017)

[Akijama]

With the recent release of “Maleficent,” which grossed more than $170 million worldwide in its opening weekend, Disney is working fast on its next live-action fairytale adaptation.

Bill Condon is set to direct a live-action version of “Beauty and the Beast” for the Disney.

Evan Spiliotopoulos is writing the script with Mandeville Films producing.

The plot details are unknown at this time.

The studio’s 1991 animated feature version of “Beauty and the Beast” grossed more than $375 million worldwide, spawned a Broadway play and became one of the few animated pics to receive a best picture Oscar nomination.

Disney has been on a role lately by both updating classic domains like “Alice and Wonderland” and “Wizard of Oz,” while also reinventing its own stories into big box office hits. The Mouse House is also developing a live-action version of “The Jungle Book,” which has Jon Favreau directing, and its “Cinderella,” helmed by Kenneth Branagh, is set to bow next March.

Although “The Fifth Estate,” Condon’s most recent pic, failed to bring auds, he did deliver two of the best reviewed films in the “Twilight” series. Condon is repped by WME, Anonymous Content and Alexander, Lawrence, Frumes & Labowitz.

http://variety.com/2014/film/news/bi...ey-1201151834/