Disney has unveiled the new trailer and preview still for Cinderella, its live-action remake of the 1950 animated classic. Within the first 24 hours, the trailer was viewed 4.2 million times on YouTube and 33 million times on Facebook. This is the biggest showing in history for a Disney movie, excluding Marvel releases.
Downton Abbey star Lily James takes on the title role of Ella. Instead of beginning the story where Cinderella is slaving away, viewers get to meet her parents played by Hayley Atwell and Ben Chaplin, and later it is revealed that Cinderella is a cruel twist of her real name, Ella. Also in this version, Cinderella does not meet the prince for the first time at the ball, but she encounters him in the woods before meeting again at the palace. Cate Blanchett takes on the role of Cinderella’s cruel stepmother, while Holliday Grainger and Sophie McShera play the role of her daughters Anastasia and Drisella.
Helena Bonham Carter will be playing the Fairy Godmother with Game of Thrones star Richard Madden as Prince Charming. Hayley Atwell, Stellan SkarsgArd and Derek Jacobi also feature in the supporting cast for the fairy tale, which will be directed by Kenneth Branagh.
Cinderella will open on 13 March in the US and 27 March in the UK.