After releasing casting information for Belle, the Beast and Gaston (Emma Watson, Dan Stevens and Luke Evans, respectively) a couple of weeks ago, the upcoming Beauty and the Beast feature film has even more updates. In addition to Dan and Luke, Emma will also be joined on screen by Josh Gad, Emma Thompson and Kevin Kline. Talk about a star-studded cast.

Josh Gad will be playing the role of LeFou, Gaston's sidekick, and can we just say that we've never heard casting anymore perfect than this? We loved Josh as Olaf in Frozen, so we know he's going to be hysterical as LeFou. Plus, it doesn't hurt that he sort of looks like the cartoon character. Emma Thompson (Professor Trelawney in the Harry Potter movies) is joining up with Emma W. again for the role of Mrs. Potts. We're not sure how she'll be portraying the talking teapot in the live-action version, but we know she's gonna rock it. Kevin Kline is joining the cast as Emma's character's dad Maurice.

Not only do we now have even more casting info, we also have a release date! The new Beauty and the Beast flick will be hitting theaters exactly two years from today on March 17, 2017. Sure, it's a while from now, but with everything we've heard about the film we know it's going to be worth the wait. The script is being written by Stephen Chbosky, who Emma already worked with on The Perks of Being a Wallflower, so basically our hopes are pretty high.

It's also being scored by Alan Menken who worked on – and won Oscars for – the original soundtrack. Plus, Emma's performing her own songs for the film. "I sing, so that’s really unexpected,” Emma shared in a recent interview. "I’ve never had to do that for a film before... It gives me a different challenge, really. That’s terrifying in and of itself!"

What excites you most about the new Beauty and the Beast movie? Who are you hoping will be cast for Lumiere, Cogsworth and Chip? Let us know in the comments.

POSTED IN Disney, Emma Watson, Beauty and the Beast