Disney's live action Cinderella film recently began filming in London, to be directed by Kenneth Branagh, and will star Downton Abbey star Lily James as the eponymous heroine.
The film will be largely based off of the Disney Cinderella that most people know and love--Disney's 1950s version, with Cinderella's signature pale blue ballgown, although little light is shed on how the little mice and farmyard animals with their own clothes will be portrayed in the live-action film.
The characters are all the same: Cinderella's cruel stepmother will be played by Cate Blanchett; the fairy godmother by Helena Bonham-Carter; and Prince Charming will be played by Richard Madden--who is famously known as another prince--later king-- the dashing Robb Stark of Game of Thrones fame (who, despite being so horrifically killed of in the last season, was a fangirl favorite what with his curly locks and blue eyes and studly studly disposition).
Director Kenneth Branagh has said that Lily James is the perfect choice to play Cinderella. "She combines knockout beauty with intelligence, wit, fun and physical grace," says Branagh of the casting choice. Emma Watson of Harry Potter fame had once been offered the role, but she had turned it down. New pictures released from the production show James as the classic CInderella: blonde, simply dressed and clear-faced, but with a few notable differences, manily that she is showing more skin than her animated counterpart. And her cleavage is clearly visible, something absent from the 1950 version! The pictures are suggestive of the film still being a period piece though, despite CInderella's modern-woman characteristics.
The classic fairytale is given a few twists and tweaks here and there. The new Disney synopsis for the film goes: Cinderella is demoted to a lowly servant after the death of her mother, put to work by ther stepmother around the house. While presumably gamboling into the woods she meets a handsome young stranger who tells her that he works at the royal palace, which is technically true, if you count royal duties as the prince as work.
When a grand ball is announced inviting all ladies to attend, Cinderella is prevented to attend by her stepmother. But then, she gets some help from somebody who seems to be a beggar-woman...or is she?
The movie is scheduled for release on March 13, 2015.
