New “Beauty and the Beast” pics, backstory unveiled

PanARMENIAN.Net - With "Beauty and the Beast (2017)" coming closer to theaters, a bunch of new stills have landed online, AceShowbiz said. Making their way out via Entertainment Weekly, the images offer a new look at Emma Watson as Belle, who can be seen donning her iconic yellow gown.

She is also seen dancing with the cursed Prince, who is played by Dan Stevens, as well as accompanying him in his library. Other images feature Lumiere the candelabra (Ewan McGregor), Cogsworth the clock (Ian McKellen) and the narcissistic town hero Gaston (Luke Evans) among others.

It's already known that Belle is a big fan of reading, while her father, Maurice, is an inventor. However, in the upcoming Bill Condon-directed movie, it is Belle who is the inventor, while her father (Kevin Kline) builds her inventions, music boxes. As seen in one of the recently-released images, the pair are at a work table covered with music boxes.

Speaking with Entertainment Weekly about the new backstory, Watson says, "In the animated movie, it's her father who is the inventor, and we actually co-opted that for Belle. I was like, 'Well, there was never very much information or detail at the beginning of the story as to why Belle didn't fit in, other than she liked books. Also what is she doing with her time?' "

"So, we created a backstory for her, which was that she had invented a kind of washing machine, so that, instead of doing laundry, she could sit and use that time to read instead," explains the 26-year-old British actress. "So, yeah, we made Belle an inventor."

The music boxes also play an important role in the story. According to set decorator Katie Spencer, Belle is "overprotected in a way, by her father, because she's lost her mother." Therefore, Maurice makes her daughter all those music boxes to "represent different countries of the world, so she can see what she's missing."

Directed by Bill Condon, the movie is set for a March 17, 2017 release in U.S. theaters. It's supported by the likes of Emma Thompson, Josh Gad and Stanley Tucci.