Beauty and the Beast: Emma Thomson, Kevin Kline Join Cast of Disney's Live-Action Adaptation of Classic Fairy Tale

Emma Thompson, 55, is signed on with Disney's latest production of a live action adaptation of the classic fairy tale to play the part of Mrs. Potts, a character introduced in the 1991 animated Beauty and the Beast film. Mrs. Potts is one of the castle's servants at the time when the sorceress put a spell on everyone. Just as the prince was turned into the Beast, Mrs. Potts was transformed into a teapot. She becomes Belle's friend and confidant.

Kevin Kline, 67, is also now attached to play Belle's father Maurice.

For the live-action musical adaptation of the Disney version of the Beauty and the Beast story, it was Emma Watson, 24, who was the first to be confirmed to be in the cast, taking the role of Belle. In fact, according to the National Ledger, Watson herself revealed she got the part and for which she had already started singing lessons in preparation. On her Facebook page, the 24-year-old star wrote: "I'm finally able to tell you... that I will be playing Belle in Disney's new live-action Beauty and the Beast! It was such a big part of my growing up, it almost feels surreal that I'll get to dance to 'Be Our Guest' and sing 'Something There.'  My six year old self is on the ceiling - heart bursting. Time to start some singing lessons. I can't wait for you to see it. Emma xx."

Luke Evans, 35, recently seen on the big-screen in The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies and Dracula Untold, followed suit, taking on the role of the villain Gaston, a character which was not part of the original story published in 1756. Like Thompson's Mrs. Potts character, Gaston was first introduced by Disney in the 1991 animated Beauty and the Beast film. Voiced by Richard White, he was then depicted as the village's local hero figure who also happens to be Belle's bitter rejected suitor. Gaston in the Disney version of the fairy tale instigates and leads the attack on Beast's castle. In the animated film, Gaston's sidekick Lefou was voiced by Jesse Corti.

Dan Stevens, 32, best known for his roles in the TV series Downton Abbey and in last year's cult action movie The Guest, is also signed on to play the Beast/Prince opposite Emma Watson's Belle.

Josh Gad, 34, best known for voicing Olaf in Frozen is set to play Gaston's buffoonish loyal sidekick Lefou in Walt Disney Pictures' live-action remake of the fairy tale Beauty and the Beast, which will have Bill Condon as director and Evan Spiliotopoulos and Steve Chbosky as scriptwriters.

Production of the live-action musical is expected to begin later in the year. Disney's Beauty and the Beast will open in theaters on March 17, 2017.