Beauty And The Beast Redux Nabs New Writer

"The Perks of Being a Wallflower" writer/director Stephen Chbosky is set to redraft live-action re-interpretation of Beauty and the Beast" for Disney says EW.

Called "The Beast", the film will be on the darker side of the 1991 animated classic - yet still retain the big-budget fantasy elements that have made Maleficent "Alice in Wonderland" and "Oz The Great and Powerful" smash hits for the Mouse House. Live action versions of "Cinderella" and The Jungle Book are on the way as well

Bill Condon ("Dreamgirls") has signed on to direct

UK writer Joe Ahearne ("Trance") was tipped to write the first draft but Evan Spiliotopoulos penned the original draft instead.

David Hoberman and Todd Lieberman will produce the film.