Disney sneaks a peek at 'Beauty' and the 'Beast'

Posted Monday, May 23, 2016 at 3:49 PM Central
Last updated Monday, May 23, 2016 at 3:50 PM Central

by John Couture

It might be a "tale as old as time," but that won't stop Disney from finding new ways to cash in on what might be their biggest untapped cash cow. In 1991, Beauty and the Beast built upon the success of The Little Mermaid two years earlier and solidly proved that Disney was back in the animation game.

It became the first animated film to break the $200 million box office mark and laid the foundation for the phenomenon that would come in a few years when The Lion King would destroy all box office records. And yet, despite all of the success of Beauty and the Beast, including a Broadway adaptation, there has been a feeling that the best days lie ahead for the story.

With the recent success Disney is enjoying with live-action adaptations of their classic animated films, it was a no-brainer that Beauty and the Beast would soon get its own adaptation. When it was announced that Emma Watson would be playing the lead Belle, you could practically hear Disney printing money. Or maybe that was just the sound of their Marvel and Star Wars success.

Yes, it's good to be the Mouse House these days and it doesn't take a rocket scientist to construct the perfect teaser trailer for Beauty and the Beast. A growl from the Beast, a shot of the magical rose and the first image of Emma as Belle.

Check. Check. And Check.

March 17, 2017 can't get here soon enough.