Emma Watson is magical in the new Beauty and the Beast trailer

Disney has released a spellbinding new trailer for the upcoming live action remake of ‘Beauty and the Beast’ starring Emma Watson and Dan Stevens.

The trailer offers the first proper look at Stevens’ motion-captured take on Beast, as well as the talking cutlery of his castle and Luke Evans’ despicable Gaston.

– Donald Trump’s most awkward movie cameos
– Critics heap praise on Disney ‘delight’ Moana
– The 10 scariest horror movies ever, as decided by the internet

This latest look at director Bill Condon’s film sets up the basic story as Belle (Watson) seeks to rescue her father (Kevin Kline) from Beast’s castle, and ends up a prisoner herself.

We soon meet Emma Thompson’s Mrs Potts, Ewan McGregor’s Lumiére and Ian McKellen’s Cogsworth and see shots from the show-stopping sequence in which Luke Evans will sing Disney classic ‘Gaston’.

There are also hints of the classic ballroom dancing scene in which Beast and Belle, resplendent in their blue outfit and yellow dress, dance in the cavernous castle.

Perhaps the most promising aspect of the trailer is the sense of the film’s visuals it offers. It looks simply stunning and Beast himself too, as he should given the film wouldn’t work unless this CG character was sub-par.

Disney is looking at a surefire winner here having enjoyed enormous success with ‘Maleficent’ and ‘The Jungle Book’ earlier this year.

With original songwriter Alan Menken is back too, that success even more likely. Menken has also written new songs for the film: ‘Our Song Lives On’, ‘Evermore’ and ‘Days in the Sun’.

‘Beauty and the Beast’ will be released on 17 March 2017.

Picture Credits: Disney