Guillermo to direct remake of `Beauty and the Beast`

Los Angeles: Mexican filmmaker Guillermo del Toro will direct and produce a new version of "Beauty and the Beast" for Warner Bros. Studios, the online edition of Variety magazine reported.

The studio has signed Andrew Davies ("Bridget Jones` Diary") to polish Del Toro`s screenplay for the film, which this time will feature flesh-and-blood actors. The original Walt Disney film was the first animated movie in history to receive an Oscar nomination for best picture and generated worldwide box-office receipts of $380.4 million in 1991. In addition, Variety said that actress Emma Watson, the female star of the "Harry Potter" saga, is in the final stages of negotiations to participate in the film. Del Toro, who is currently filming the science fiction film "Pacific Rim" for Warner Bros. and Legendary Pictures, is also the co-screenwriter for the two-part filming of "The Hobbit", a prequel to the "Lord of the Rings" movie trilogy. IANS