Angela Lansbury Is NOT a Fan of the New 'Beauty and the Beast' Movie
The OG Mrs. Potts is not impressed with your live-action "Beauty and the Beast" remake, Disney. However, since Angela Lansbury is a class act, she found a classy way to completely dismiss the upcoming movie -- starring Emma Watson, Dan Stevens, and her own friend Emma Thompson as the new Mrs. Potts -- basically questioning its existence and letting everyone know it will never stand up to the 1991 animated film.
Lansbury talked to Entertainment Weekly about the making of the original, and the site pointed out that the movie was so memorable for so many kids, many who are now grown-ups. This was their movie. Lansbury replied, "Exactly. It is, it was, and it will remain so. Because they don't make them like that anymore. Ever since 'Toy Story,' I think was the first time when they used a different process, and they were no longer drawing each movement of each character individually, as they did then. They don't do that anymore. So it's a very rich, extraordinary piece of work in every respect, from that point of view. It's a treasure. A legendary treasure as far as cartoon work is concerned."
Here's the part where she's asked about the 2017 movie:
When you first heard that they were making a new, live action Beauty and the Beast, what was your reaction?
I was a bit taken aback, naturally. I thought, "Why? Why are we doing this over again?" But I guess, I don't know why they're doing it. But they are, and it will be interesting to see what they do with it. These are live action pieces and I know very well the actress who's playing Mrs. Potts and she's a very good friend of mine. It's Emma Thompson.
Is it strange, just the idea in general, that someone else will be playing Mrs. Potts, or Lumiere or Belle?
Oh, absolutely. I don't quite know why they're doing it. I can't understand what they're going to do with it that will be better than what we've already done. And how they're doing it live — it may turn out to be very entertaining and wonderful. It won't be like the cartoon that we did, but it's a good story — it's one of the famous fairy stories that is known worldwide by children. Therefore, why not? I don't blame them for doing it. But, I'm sorry, they're not really on our territory. We did it as cartoon characters, and that is quite different from live actors.
There are some backhanded compliments in there, but it's mostly refreshing honesty and loyalty to what she rightly views as an untouchable classic. Like many fans, we adored the 1991 film but also can't wait to see the new live-action movie. But no one owes the world the same view. And it does sound like she might go ahead and watch the new movie anyway, just out of curiosity, she's just going to keep it in a separate room in the castle from Disney's first "Beauty and the Beast." Maybe the dungeon.
"Beauty and the Beast" will be released in theaters March 17th, 2017.
Want more stuff like this? Like us on Facebook.