Tale as old as time: New Beauty and the Beast trailer starring Emma Watson is unveiled

TWENTY five years after the Oscar-winning animation graced the big screen, Disney has brought Beauty and the Beast back to life in a brand new live-action retelling of this classic tale.

And today, cinemagoers were treated to their first glimpse of the new film as the first trailer was unveiled.

The teaser trailer opens on the Beast’s magnificent castle, now left in rack and ruin, and pans inside to show the grand ballroom and staircase.

Then a family portrait comes into view but a close up of the young prince’s face is soon ruined by a growl as the Beast slashes his killer claws across the painting.

It then cuts to the front door which creaks slowly open as a French voice says, “look – a girl!”

To which another retorts, “yes, I can see it’s a girl, you fool!”

Then the French voice asks, “what if she is the one?”

The screen then fades to black as a girl’s voice calls out, “hello?” before coming across the enchanted rose that holds the Beast under its spell.

And then a soft instrumental version of the animated film’s theme tune, Beauty and the Beast, plays out to the end of the trailer.

For fans itching to know the cast, the French voice of maitre d’ turned enchanted candelabra Lumiere is Ewan McGregor and Ian McKellen provides the disapproving voice of Cogsworth, the master’s Majordomo, now a walking and talking pendulum clock.

Beauty, or Belle as she is otherwise known, is played by Harry Potter star Emma Watson who told Total Film magazine that her biggest concern about taking the part was her singing.

She said: “I sing, so that’s really unexpected. I’ve never had to do that for a film role before and I think people will be interested to see me do something very different like that.

“It gives me a different challenge, really. That’s terrifying in and of itself!”

If anyone doesn’t know the story, Beauty and the Beast tells the tale of a beautiful and bright young woman called Belle who is taken prisoner by a Beast – who in the film is played by Downton Abbey’s Dan Stevens – in his castle.

A pampered and spoilt royal, he was punished by a witch and transformed into a hideous monster who will only return to being a prince again when he earns the love of a beautiful and selfless young woman

The film, due for release in July 2017, also stars Luke Evans as Gaston, the handsome, but extremely vain villager who woos Belle, Kevin Kline as Maurice, Belle’s eccentric, but lovable father; Josh Gad as Lefou, Stanley Tucci as Maestro Cadenza, the harpsichord, Gugu Mbatha-Raw as Plumette, the feather duster and Emma Thompson as the teapot, Mrs. Potts.