Emma Watson Cast As Belle In New Beauty And The Beast Movie

Disney has cast former Harry Potter star Emma Watson as Belle in their upcoming live action Beauty and the Beast movie.

While Watson made her name playing Hermione Granger in the eight Harry Potter films, she has since continued her career with roles in films like The Perks of Being a Wallflower and Noah.

Beauty and the Beast continues Disney's recent trend of adapting their animated classics into big budget, live action movies. The film is being directed by Bill Condon (The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn). Production is expected to begin later this year.

Disney's next live action adaptation, Cinderella, opens March 13.