As the director for the upcoming Disney blockbuster, the Cinderella movie, Kenneth Branagh expressed what he felt after re-reading the classic story.
The actor and director revealed to RumorFix that he “re-read the fairytale” and “was so struck” about its affect and how everyone could “identify” to the story.
The fairytale, written in 1697 by Charles Perrault, was originally titled “Cendrillion” and tells of the goodness that Ella's mother reminds her of before dying.
With previous reports of the film not straying too far from the original material, the British actor and director assures Disney fans that the new live action adaptation will meet their expectations.
“In this new Disney live action Cinderella her mother advises her to have courage and be kind and the message of the picture has that — as if goodness was a super-power,” he explained about the new film.
In the animated version of the film, Cinderella was only seen as a girl who was saved from her stepmother and stepsister's cruelty by her Prince Charming. In this retelling however, Ella will be slightly different.
“This Disney Cinderella will be reliant on finding those magical qualities [courage and kindness] inside [herself],” Branagh added, “It is a very positive thought for everybody.”
The Cinderella movie will be told in the Prince Charming's (Game Of Throne's Richard Madden) perspective and will vary from the original story by letting Ella (Downtown Abbey's Lily James) meet him in the woods before the actual ball. She mistakes the prince, who calls himself “Kit,” as a palace help and befriends him.
The Cinderella movie, Kenneth Branagh at the helm, has assembled an impressive lineup of stars for its cast. Aside from Lily James and Richard Madden, the film will also star Helena Bonham-Carter as the fairy godmother and Cate Blanchett as the evil stepmother, Lady Tremaine. Hayley Atwell and Ben Chaplin will also make an appearance as Ella's real parents.
Stellan Skarsgard will play the Grand Duke, while Derek Jacobi will be the King. Nonzo Anosie will be the Captain. Holliday Grainger and Sophie McSherra will be Ella's stepsisters, Anastacia and Drizella.
The Cinderella movie with Kenneth Branagh as director is set to be released on March 13, 2015.
