Lily James Will Wear The Glass Slippers As "Cinderella"

Downton Abbey's Lily James has been chosen for the title role in the latest re-telling of the fairy tale "Cinderella" says The Hollywood Reporter.

"The Devil Wears Prada" writer Aline Brosh McKenna sold the pitch to Disney back in 2010 which re-imagines the story as it follows a "prince set for a politically arranged marriage, until the evil plan is threatened when the prince meets Cinderella". Chris Weitz penned the final script.

Emma Watson was linked to the role for less than a week last month While Saoirse Ronan ("Atonement"), Alicia Vikander ("Anna Karenina") Imogen Poots and Gabriella Wilde ("The Three Musketeers") tested for the lead last year. Bella Heathcote ("Dark Shadows"), Margot Robbie ("Pan Am") tested most recently.

Now that Cinderella is cast, the male lead role of Prince Charming is expected to be cast. The early front runner is said to be "Game of Thrones" co-star Richard Madden.

Cate Blanchett was in talks to play the evil stepmother.

Mark Romanek ("Never Let Me Go") vacated the director's chair last year when he and the studio reportedly over "differing views on how to tell the story." Romanek’s version was a darker vision than thnowe studio wanted. The same thing happened with 2010's "The Wolfman," and Romanek ended up looking like the smart one for exiting what ended up being a critical and commercial failure.

Kenneth Branagh is now calling action on the film.

Simon Kinberg will produce.

Production hopes to begin this fall for a potential 2014 release.