Bill Condon has been building quite the ensemble for Disney’s new live-action Beauty And The Beast and he’s just upped the movie’s theatre cred by one. Tony winner Audra McDonald has joined the cast to play living wardrobe Garderobe{
Emma Watson and Dan Stevens are aboard as the titular pair, starring in the story of a young, literary-minded young woman (Watson) who agrees to take her father’s place imprisoned in a castle, where she’s romanced by a cursed prince turned into a beast (Stevens).
Our heroine ultimately chooses the hairy creature over her jealous suitor, Gaston (Luke Evans). He, in turn, deals with the rejection somewhat awkwardly, gathering henchman Le Fou (Josh Gad) and a mob of townspeople to hunt down and try to kill the creature.
Garderobe is one of the people turned into enchanted objects who initially help Watson’s Belle adjust to life in the castle. She joins Emma Thompson, who was recently hired to play teapot Mrs. Potts. Given that Condon and composer Alan Menken are aiming to use the songs from Disney’s 1991 cartoon version with additional tracks added, we’d expect to hear McDonald warbling 'Human Again' in the film.
Condon will be cranking the cameras this May at Shepperton Studios, with the movie targeting a March 17, 2017 release in the States. There's no confirmed UK date as yet.