Luke Evans flirts with Emma Watson in new “Beauty and the Beast” pic

PanARMENIAN.Net - Disney has unleashed a never-before-seen image of the much-anticipated live-action movie "Beauty and the Beast (2017)". Making its way out via Empire, the new still features Luke Evans as the narcissistic town hero Gaston, who can be seen giving Emma Watson's Belle beautiful flowers, AceShowbiz said.

Speaking about his villainous character, Evans told the site that Gaston "gets as dark as any Disney character could possibly get." The 37-year-old British actor added, "This is a man who, for the first time in his life, hasn't got what he wanted."

Meanwhile, Watson revealed that Belle was one of her "idols growing up." She shared, "I knew every word to the animation. I was born in Paris like Belle. We both love books, obviously. She is someone who doesn't really feel like she fits in, but she finds her place in the world and uses what makes her different. She was just inspiring to me."

In the Bill Condon-directed live-action movie, Watson stars alongside Dan Stevens, who portrays the titular cursed prince. The movie also stars Kevin Kline as Belle's father Maurice, Josh Gad as Gaston's sidekick Le Fou, Emma Thompson as Mrs. Potts the teapot, Ian McKellen as Cogsworth the clock, Ewan McGregor as Lumiere the candlestick and Stanley Tucci as a new character called Cadenza the grand piano.

Set to hit U.S. theaters on March 17, 2017, the upcoming big-screen adaptation of the classic fairy tale follows a bright, beautiful and independent young woman who is taken prisoner by a beast in his castle. Despite her fears, she befriends the castle's enchanted staff and learns to look beyond the Beast's hideous exterior and realize the kind heart and soul of the true Prince within.