Last night, it was reported that
Harry Potter star Emma Watson has passed on the title role in Disney's live action adaptation of
Cinderella, which will be directed by Kenneth Branagh (
Thor). Now,
Variety has posted their full report on the news, saying that Watson's reps couldn't work out a deal for the casting, but no other specific details are given. Cate Blanchett (
The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey) has been cast as the wicked stepmother. Saoirse Ronan (
The Host), Gabriella Wilde (
The Three Musketeers) and Alicia Vikander (
Anna Karenina) were also in consideration to play Cinderella, but scheduling/other conflicts didn't allow any deals to be locked.
Additionally, Watson is still attached to star as Belle in Warner Bros.' adaptation of
Beauty & The Beast, which has Guillermo del Toro attached to helm. However, despite still being in development, it will not go into production this year. Coincidentally, it was also reported last night that Disney is also developing a live action spin on the fairy tale, titled
The Beast. Joe Ahearne (
Trance) is writing the script for that film.
Disney hopes to begin production on
Cinderella sometime this fall for a 2014 release. As for other fantasy projects from the studio, the Angelina Jolie-starrer (
Maleficent) opens July 2nd, 2014, and sequels to
Alice In Wonderland and
Oz: The Great And Powerful are in development. Who would you like to see play
Cinderella?