DAVIES TO PEN 'BEAST' FOR THE BULL
Warner Bros. has tapped BRIDGET JONES' DIARY writer Andrew Davies to write BEAUTY AND THE BEAST, a new take on the classic tale that Guillermo del Toro will not only produce, but also direct, Variety's Jeff Sneider reports. Davies will work off a forthcoming script treatment from Del Toro and WB’s HARRY POTTER star Emma Watson is in final negotiations to star in the period piece. Del Toro, who’s currently filming PACIFIC RIM for WB and Legendary Pictures, is credited as a co-writer on both of WB’s upcoming HOBBIT movies. He recently exec produced Universal’s MAMA and DreamWorks Animation’s RISE OF THE GUARDIANS. Having wrapped her long-running role as Hermione Granger in the HARRY POTTER films, Watson will next reteam with DEATHLY HALLOWS director David Yates. She currently co-stars in MY WEEK WITH MARILYN and will soon be seen in Summit’s THE PERKS OF BING A WALLFLOWER. Davies, who wrote BRIDGET JONES DIARY and its 2004 sequel, most recently penned THE THREE MUSKETEERS and BRIDESHEAD REVISITED.
