Disney plans live action 'Beauty and the Beast'

Disney is in talks with screenwriter Joe Ahearne about a live action version of its animated classic 'Beauty and the Beast'.
The studio is in talks with Ahearne to script the adventurous film following the success of the James Franco-starring 'Oz the Great and Powerful', which grossed USD 80 million in its opening weekend in the US.
The film, which is tentatively titled 'The Beast', may be a darker take on the classic fairytale and is expected to be filmed in 3D like 'Oz' and Disney's 2010 re-imagining of 'Alice in Wonderland', according to Aceshowbiz.
Ahearne wrote the script for the upcoming Danny Boyle directed heist thriller, 'Trance', while his other credits include TV shows 'The Secret of Crickley Hall' and 'Da Vinci's Demons'.

Disney released its critically acclaimed animated version of 'Beauty and the Beast' in 1991, which was re-released in 3D last year.
The film earned over USD 400 million at the box office worldwide and was the first animated film to be nominated for Best Picture at the Academy Awards.
The classic movie is based on the French fairytale 'La Belle et la Bete' by Jeanne-Marie Le Prince de Beaumont.