Sir Tim Rice Comments On BEAUTY & THE BEAST Live Action Remake & Teases New Songs

BEAUTY & THE BEAST is coming to the big screen again in a whole new way, with brand new songs!

Hit Broadway musical edition of classic animated Disney movie musical BEAUTY & THE BEAST will start shooting a fresh live-action edition featuring classic Alan Menken and Howard Ashman songs from the film and the subsequent stage adaptation - which also boasts lyrics by Tim Rice - in May according to recent reports and Rice commented on preliminary meetings taking place about the new project via Twitter earlier this week, confirming new songs will be penned for the film.

Rice wrote, "Just enjoyed excellent meet greet dinner with Beauty film cast and crew. And eat. New songs from me 'n the legendary Alan Menken".

Follow Sir Tim Rice on Twitter here.

In addition to Emma Watson, the new BEAUTY & THE BEAST is also set to showcase stage and screen star Dan Stevens as The Beast, along with film star Luke Evans as Gaston.

Of note, the starry cast also includes two-time Academy Award winner Emma Thompson, fellow Oscar-winner Kevin Kline, six-time Tony Award winner Audra McDonald, recognizable stage and screen star Timothy Spall and iconic stage and screen star Sir Ian McKellen.

BEAUTY & THE BEAST is set to be released on March 17. 2017.