Of all of the many films in the catalog of Disney’s animated classics, Beauty and the Beast may be the most beloved, not just to the masses, but critically as well. (It was the first animated feature ever to be nominated for an Academy Award for Best Picture.) That’s why, even during a stream of high-profile live action remakes (Maleficent, Cinderella, The Jungle Book), Beauty and the Beast, starring Emma Watson (Harry Potter) and Dan Stevens (Downton Abbey), has built unprecedented buzz.

Marketing for the film has primarily focused on moments recreated in live action from its animated predecessor, seemingly beat-by-beat. This has prompted fans to wonder how much the project will differ from the original. One new detail now suggests that the answer to that question is “significantly.”

Courtesy of movie ticket distributor, Fandango, we now know the running time of Beauty and the Beast: 123 minutes. For reference, the theatrical release of Disney’s original animated film was 84 minutes, which means the remake will be almost a whole half a movie longer than Disney’s first go at the project.

Obviously, when it comes to film length, longer does not necessarily equal better, though this could point to a more fleshed out story for the new iteration. The animated original had a brisk pace, keeping with a film designed to be accessible to small children. If indeed the new film goes into more detail on issues that were covered in montage in the original, (like Belle and Beast’s budding romance,) this may serve to separate the live action remake as the more “mature” version of the same story. Considering its competition, it’s good to know that the remake will have something other than flesh-and-blood actors to bring to the table.

It will be interesting to see whether or not the Beauty and the Beast remake will stand as its own Tale as Old as Time, but it’s hard to imagine a situation where it doesn’t get by in the box office. Even if it somehow turns out poorly, there’s surely enough interest to keep it afloat. At least we now know it’s fighting for its place in fan’s minds in more ways than one.

Are you excited or scared about what the Beauty and the Beast remake will mean for the original’s legacy? Let us know in the comments section, and stay tuned to Screen Rant for updates and impressions of the film as they hit.

Source: Fandango

  • Beauty and the Beast Release Date: 2017-03-17