Live-Action ‘Beauty And The Beast’ Updates: Gugu Mbatha-Raw Joins The Cast As Plumette The Feather Duster

Best known for her recurring role in “Doctor Who,” British stage star Gugu Mbatha-Raw is set to join the live-action “Beauty and the Beast.” The actress landed the role as Plumette, a maid who was transformed into a feather duster when the prince was cursed into a horrible beast.

The 31-year-old “Larry Crowne” star is set to join the cast that includes Luke Evans, who will play the obnoxious Gaston, Josh Gad as Gaston’s sidekick LeFou, Emma Thompson as Mrs. Potts and Kevin Kline as Belle’s father, Maurice. The movie is scheduled to start its production this year for a March 2017 release.

Mbatha-Raw’s involvement in the film was announced on Monday by Variety, as she joined “The Hobbit” star Ian McKellen, who was recently cast as Cogsworth the clock. The actress was cast recently in “Jupiter Ascending” alongside Channing Tatum (“Magic Mike XXL”) and Mila Kunis (“Oz The Great and Powerful”).

Written by Evan Spiliotopoulos and rewritten by Stephen Chbosky, “Beauty and the Beast” follows the success of Disney’s “Cinderella” and “Alice in Wonderland.” Condon’s remake of the classic fairy tale is set to follow the original animated movie and will feature the classic songs such as “Be Our Guest” and “Tale As Old As Time.”

“Disney adapted the tale of the bookish girl forced to live with a mysterious beast in their 1991 animated classic, which Maleficent scribe Linda Woolverton wrote,” according to Entertainment Weekly. “Plot details are unknown at this point, but Disney does not seem to be slowing down in mining their animated classics for new, live-action takes.”

Meanwhile, Mbatha-Raw is slowly making her name in the big screen as she is currently filming “The Free State of Jones” alongside Academy winner Matthew McConaughey. She recently wrapped up the production on “Concussion” and “The Whole Truth,” which will both premiere later this year.

She also played the leading role in the 2014 romantic drama, “Beyond the Lights” as Noni Jean. She starred alongside Minnie Driver, Nate Parker and Danny Glover.

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