Are Disney trying to jump aboard the young adult bandwagon with the latest piece of news? Or is this just another attempt at rejuvenating properties that are guaranteed to rake it in at the box office? You decide. According to EW, The Perks Of Being A Wallflower author-screenwriter-director-teenage saviour, Stephen Chbosky, has signed on to redraft a new version of the script for the studio’s upcoming Beauty And The Beast remake.
After the success of Wallflower, the move to enlist Chbosky might see a shift from the source material and into more adolescent waters. His take on growing up was one of those rare indie gems that truly captures what it means to have your younger years defined by music, friends and heavy, heavy introspection. He’s an author who’s got a grasp of what it means to be a kid, making him an ideal candidate to imbue the saccharine-drenched stories of Disney with a bit of panache.
Disney has already wagered considerable success with the material. 1991’s animated version is now considered a classic after capturing the hearts and imaginations of an entire generation. However, it doesn’t mean it’s still not viable for a dusting off. In fact, rather the opposite. Earlier this summer, the studio snared Bill Condon to helm the piece, which will be somewhat of a departure from the early nineties version. Sticking to live action, the film Chbosky has signed on to write will incorporate song elements from the first combined with the songs from the spinoff Broadway musical. He’ll rework an earlier draft by Evan Spiliotopoulos (Hercules, Tinkerbell.)
Movement on the project casts further doubt on the other live-action version over at Warner Bros. Simply called Beauty, it lost out on a major talent when Guillermo Del Toro dropped out back in June due to his hectic schedule. Interestingly enough, Perks star Emma Watson is still attached. Will she jump ship, too? Only time will tell.
As always, we’ll keep you posted when more news lands on Beauty And The Beast.