Bill Condon Directing Live-Action BEAUTY AND THE BEAST

‘Dreamgirls’ helmer to tackle classic fairytale…

Variety is reporting that Bill Condon (‘The Fifth Estate,’ ‘Kinsey’) is to step behind the camera to direct Disney’s next live-action fairytale adaptation, ‘Beauty and the Beast.’

Condon will direct the live-action tale from a script penned by Evan Spiliotopoulos (‘Hercules,’ ‘Tinker Bell and the Lost Treasure,’ ‘The Lion King 1½’). Disney based banner Mandeville Films is producing.

Originating from fairy tales and folklore, ‘Beauty and the Beast’ was first published in 1740. The tale has been adapted to the big screen numerous times, most notably Jean Cocteau’s 1946 film and the Oscar-nominated 1991 Disney animation.

A rival project remains in development over at Warned Bros, with Emma Watson attached to star and Guillermo del Toro producing.