First official look at 'Beauty and the Beast'

With live action photos of scenes that look like they have come directly out of the animated film, Entertainment Weekly has published a first look at the latest version of Disney’s 'Beauty and the Beast' leaving the animated films many fans with little to worry about. It looks like the live action version is going to be every bit as compelling as the original.

Emma Watson And Bill Condon on the set (Entertainment Weekly)

In what is essentially the first look of Harry Potter star Emma Watson and Dan Stevens as the Belle and the Beast, EW has provided us with a sneak preview of what to expect when the entire cast appears. The movie is set for release on March 10th, 2017. Included with the amazing cover photo are several other stills taken from this most recent adaptation. In addition to Emma Watson as Beauty and Dan Stevens as the Beast, the cast includes Oscar winner Kevin Kline as Maurice, Ewan McGregor playing Lumiere, Stanley Tucci as Maestro Cadenza, six-time Tony Award winner Audra McDonald as Madame Garderobe, two-time Academy Award winner Emma Thompson as Mrs. Potts and Ian McKellen as Cogsworth, who however, will not have his own musical number but who apparently would like to have according to what he told EW.

Gaston (Luke Evans) a handsome but arrogant brute, holds court in the village tavern (Entertainment Weekly)

Although this may be considered as being the first look at Emma Watson and Dan Stevens in their roles as the belle and the beast, a similar image showing the two appeared online a couple of months ago but was quickly removed. Also, a few months ago, a teaser trailer appeared online showing several characters from this latest rendition but not the stars Watson and Stevens. It did, however, manage to break the record for the most online hits within a 24-hour period, taking that honor away from 'Star Wars: The Force Awakens'.

The Beast (Dan Stevens) and Belle (Emma Watson) in the castle library (Entertainment Weekly)

In EW’s cover layout, Emma appears in a beautiful flowing yellow gown dancing with the handsomely dressed beast. In the photo, the couple appears in the ballroom gracefully dancing the night away. Emma is stunning in her elegant gown and Stevens unrecognizable as the beast appearing with horns although regally dressed, his hairy legs and long hair fully on display.

Costume designer Jacqueline Durran describes to EW the special effort that was put into Watson’s gown to give it a lift but for it to still appear light. Durran explains that Emma interpreted Belle as being an active princess not likely to wear a corset or a dress that would impede her in any way.

Jacqueline Durran designed the amazing yellow gown for Emma Watson (Entertainment Weekly)

Watson explained to EW that she is perfect for the part of Belle having been a lifelong fan. 'I can't even think how many times I watched it as a child', she told Entertainment Weekly, 'I knew all the words by heart. I knew all the songs by heart'.

One of the photos being shown by EW includes Cogsworth (Ian McKellen) as the clock, Mrs. Potts (Emma Thompson) the teapot, Lumiere (Ewan McGregor) as the candlestick, and Plumette (Gugu Mbatha-Raw) the feather duster that is magically transformed into a maid.

'Entertainment Weekly' presents the mantel clock Cogsworth, the teapot Mrs. Potts, Lumiere the candelabra and the feather duster Plumette