Casting News: Emma Thompson & Kevin Kline Join Beauty and the Beast

After a tear-jerking turn as the author of Mary Poppins in Saving Mr. Banks, Emma Thompson is diving back into the Disney magic, along with Kevin Kline. This time accompanied by Emma Watson as Belle, Dan Stevens as the Beast, and Luke Evans as Gaston for the live-action adaptation of Beauty and the Beast.

It was announced today that Thompson would play Mrs. Potts, the role originated by Angela Lansbury in the 1991 animated feature, and Kline will play Belle's father, Maurice, originally voiced by Rex Everhart. Don't forget: He also has a bit of history with Disney, voicing the guard captain Phoebus in The Hunchback of Notre Dame.

Alan Menken, who won two Academy Awards for the 1991 animated version, will score the update, slated for a March 2017 release, which will feature new recordings of the original songs and new songs as well.