Disney isn’t slowing down on the road of rebooting classic fairy tales. ‘Maleficent‘ is quickly approaching its release date, making room for a new live-action feature to begin its campaign.
‘Cinderella‘ brings to life the timeless images from Disney’s 1950 animated masterpiece as fully-realized characters in a visually dazzling spectacle for a whole new generation.
Very little is revealed in the 1 minute 17 second clip. A glass slipper dances in the light before a single butterfly flutters in and rests upon it. The official synopsis does give a hefty summation.
According to Disney…
This revamp finds young Ella, whose merchant father remarries following the death of her mother. Eager to support her loving father, Ella welcomes her new stepmother and her daughters Anastasia and Drisella into the family home. But, when Ella’s father unexpectedly passes away, she finds herself at the mercy of a jealous and cruel new family. Finally relegated to nothing more than a servant girl covered in ashes, and spitefully renamed Cinderella, Ella could easily begin to lose hope.
Yet, despite the cruelty inflicted upon her, Ella is determined to honor her mother’s dying words and to “have courage and be kind.” She will not give in to despair nor despise those who mistreat her. And then there is the dashing stranger she meets in the woods. Unaware that he is really a prince, not merely an apprentice at the Palace, Ella finally feels she has met a kindred soul. It appears her fortunes may be about to change when the Palace sends out an open invitation for all maidens to attend a ball, raising Ella’s hopes of once again encountering the charming Kit. Alas, her stepmother forbids her to attend and callously rips apart her dress. But, as in all good fairy tales, help is at hand, and a kindly beggar woman steps forward and – armed with a pumpkin and a few mice – changes Cinderella’s life forever.
The cast is impressive is equally impressive. Lily James, who you will recognize from ‘Downtown Abbey‘ leads the cast along with the impeccable Cate Blanchett. While you might pin Cate as the Fairy Godmother, she will actually be undertaking the roll of Ella’s wicked stepmother. Helena Bonham-Carter is also in the ranks as the “kindly beggar woman who lends Cinderella a pumpkin and a few mice!
We will have to wait until we get closer to the March 2015 release for more info. Until then, enjoy the Cinderella teaser trailer and few movie posters.
