Earlier this year, a short teaser for Disney’s live-action remake of Beauty and the Beast showed off the Beasts’ meticulously computer-generated-imagery-crafted castle, with just a brief glimpse of Emma Watson as Belle. Now, with the first official trailer, we get all of that and much more—namely, dose after heavy dose of comforting nostalgia. It seems quite clear that this new version of the beloved 1991 animated musical will hew closely to its predecessor, from the script’s dialogue to the final showdown between Beast (Dan Stevens) and Gaston (Luke Evans).
And this could be a good thing: The cast of characters as seen here crackle on screen in their brief moments, from Ewan McGregor’s Lumière and Ian McKellen’s Cogsworth, to Evans’ macho (and mustachioed) Gaston and Kevin Kline’s Maurice. And Watson, as the book-loving, plucky Belle, seems—unsurprisingly—as though she’ll bring just the right amount of spirit and energy to the role.
While there’s no singing to be heard here, fans should also take heart in the fact that, as with this year’s earlier Jungle Book remake, Beauty and the Beast will remain a musical; one can catch quick moments that appear to be taken from the original’s signature numbers, including “Be Our Guest” and “Gaston.” (There will even apparently be a few new songs added, from original composer Alan Menken and Tim Rice.) Bill Condon (Dreamgirls, screenwriter for Chicago) directs, and the movie makes its way into theaters on March 17, 2017.
