Emma Watson to play Belle in live-action 'Beauty and the Beast'

Fashion icon and actress Emma Watson is set to be play the bookish beauty, Belle, in Disney's upcoming live-action interpretation of Beauty and the Beast. Here is her Facebook reaction to the casting as the story broke this morning:

The film will be directed by The Twilight Saga's Bill Condon and produced by Mandeville Films' David Hoberman and Todd Lieberman. Production is anticipated to begin later this year.

This isn't the first time Watson has been cast as Belle, either. In 2011, Watson previously cast in Guillermo del Toro's live-action version of Beauty and the Beast until the film was halted in development.