Cinderella is one of Walt Disney Animation Studios’ beloved classics, with its timeless story and iconic music. In recent years, Disney has set out to “reimagine” some of its animated classics by bringing them into the world of live-action. In just a few weeks, Maleficent, starring Angelina Jolie as the villain from Sleeping Beauty, opens in theaters, and there are plans for future adaptations as well. Cinderella is scheduled to open next year, but Disney has already unveiled the first teaser trailer and poster for the highly-anticipated film. Take a look after the break!
The live-action version of the film has high standards to live up to, so you could say it has large shoes to fill (let’s get that idiom out of the way now and never use it again). The film is being directed by Kenneth Branagh, who is no stranger to adapting classics, as he has previously directed films such as Frankenstein, Hamlet, and Macbeth for the screen. The titular character is played by relative unknown, actress Lily James, best known for her role as Lady Rose in Downton Abbey. Joining her is a talented cast of veterans, including Helena Bonham Carter as The Fairy Godmother, Cate Blanchett as the stepmother, and Stellan Skarsgård as The Grand Duke. The role of Prince Charming has been given to none other than Richard Madden, best known as Robb Stark from HBO’s Game of Thrones series.
The synopsis for the film should be familiar to many – you can read it here:
The story of “Cinderella” follows the fortunes of young Ella (Lily James) whose merchant father remarries following the death of her mother. Eager to support her loving father, Ella welcomes her new stepmother (Cate Blanchett) and her daughters Anastasia (Holliday Grainger) and Drisella (Sophie McShera) into the family home. But, when Ella’s father unexpectedly passes away, she finds herself at the mercy of a jealous and cruel new family. Finally relegated to nothing more than a servant girl covered in ashes, and spitefully renamed Cinderella, Ella could easily begin to lose hope. Yet, despite the cruelty inflicted upon her, Ella is determined to honor her mother’s dying words and to “have courage and be kind.” She will not give in to despair nor despise those who mistreat her. And then there is the dashing stranger she meets in the woods. Unaware that he is really a prince, not merely an apprentice at the Palace, Ella finally feels she has met a kindred soul. It appears her fortunes may be about to change when the Palace sends out an open invitation for all maidens to attend a ball, raising Ella’s hopes of once again encountering the charming Kit (Richard Madden). Alas, her stepmother forbids her to attend and callously rips apart her dress. But, as in all good fairy tales, help is at hand, and a kindly beggar woman (Helena Bonham-Carter) steps forward and – armed with a pumpkin and a few mice – changes Cinderella’s life forever.
Cinderella arrives in theaters on March 13, 2015!