Actress Emma Watson arrives for a dinner to celebrate the work of The Royal Marsden hosted by Britain Prince William at Windsor Castle, in Windsor
IN PHOTO: Actress Emma Watson arrives for a dinner to celebrate the work of The Royal Marsden hosted by Britain Prince William at Windsor Castle, in Windsor, May 13, 2014. REUTERS/Chris Jackson/Pool

It’s the start of the tale as old as time as the cast of live-action “Beauty and the Beast” gathered for their first selfie before the movie will start its production later this year. Courtesy of “Frozen” star Josh Gad, the film’s first cast picture was posted on the actor’s Instagram account as he grins from ear-to-ear alongside Emma Watson (“Noah”), Dan Stevens (“Downtown Abbey”), Luke Evans (“Dracula Untold”) and veteran actor Kevin Kline.

Playing the female heroine Belle, Watson was surrounded by her male co-stars who are gearing up for Bill Condon’s live-action musical “Beauty and the Beast.” Other stars who are not present in the picture are “Emma Thompson is set to play as the singing kettle Mrs. Potts, Ian McKellan as Cogsworth, Audra McDonald as the wardrobe and Gugu Mbatha-Raw as Plumette.

The “Lord of the Rings” star also posted his report on the movie’s first table read on his Facebook page as the cast and crew gathered for the first time in Shepperton Studios. The 75-year-old reunited with “The Hobbit” costar Bard the Bowman, Luke Evans, and was happy to see Kline who he haven’t seen since they received their Tony Awards together in 1981.

“The legendary Audra McDonald had sung and Emma Thompson too (a cupboard and a teapot in the Beast’s bewitched household),” McKellan wrote on his Facebook wall. “But my favourite moment, because it made me weepy, was when the Beast’s loving arm was placed tentatively on Belle’s shoulder after their pas de deux. Clearly dancing and singing rehearsals had started before today.”

The actor ended his long post with a promise that he is going to “work hard to equal what has already been achieved.” He even admitted of humming “Be My Guest” while driving on his way home as he will get to sing a line or two from the movie’s classic song.

Meanwhile, the “Dreamgirls” director is scheduled to film the classic Disney movie in London with a released date on March 17, 2017. Condon’s other film credits include The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn – Part 1 and 2, “Mr. Holmes” and “The Fifth Estate.”

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