While rumors fly about saying that the "Harry Potter" actress is en route to become a real-life princess (as she's said to be dating fourth-in-line to the throne of the United Kingdom, Prince Harry), it's for sure that Emma Watson's Belle in "Beauty and the Beast" will captivate hearts all over.
A live-action adaptation of the Disney musical, the world became excited after Emma Watson's Belle casting was first announced earlier this year; now, she finally has found her hard-to-love prince in Dan Stevens, the man who played Michelle Dockery's love interest in "Downton Abbey."
This fantastic mixture of British icons (because, let's face it, "Harry Potter" and the drama period "Downton Abbey" are two of the biggest exports the UK has given the world in the past few decades) seems to be just the tip of the iceberg, according to Time Magazine, as it seems like Emma Watson's Belle and Dan Stevens' Beast are only the two leads in what might be an all-British cast.
According to Vogue, Watson confirmed the addition of Stevens to the cast on her Twitter account, and he proceeded to do the same on his.
The Telegraph reports that Stevens isn't the only new addition to Emma Watson's Belle, but that Welsh actor Luke Evans, famous for his roles in films like "The Hobbit" franchise, is currently in talks to play villain Gaston, the misogynist who tries to marry Belle for her looks even though she hates him.
Certainly, in that aspect, Emma Watson's Belle casting is absolutely perfect: with her record as an activist for equality, nobody is more apt to play the role of a feminist Disney princess than the "Harry Potter" actress!
Rumor has it that another "Harry Potter" cast member might be playing a role: Emma Thompson, who'd be taking on the role of Mrs. Potts.
Of course, Emma Watson's Belle is only the latest classic Disney princess that's getting a new live-action version, after Elle Fanning's Aurora in "Maleficent" and "Downton Abbey" alum Lily James as Ella in the upcoming version of "Cinderella."