Emma Thompson and Kevin Kline cast in Beauty and the Beast remake

Image source, Reuters

Oscar-winning actress Emma Thompson has joined the cast of Disney's live-action take on Beauty and the Beast.

The star will play Mrs Potts, the housekeeper magically transformed into a teapot whom Dame Angela Lansbury voiced in the 1991 animated version of the film.

Fellow Oscar-winner Kevin Kline has also signed on to play Maurice, the father of the 'Beauty' character Belle.

The film will be released in US cinemas on 17 March 2017.

It was announced in January that Harry Potter star Emma Watson had been cast as Belle.

It was subsequently confirmed that Downton Abbey's Dan Stevens will play the Beast and that Luke Evans will co-star as the villainous Gaston.

Josh Gad, who voiced Olaf the snowman in Disney's animated hit Frozen, is also on board as Gaston's sidekick LeFou.

Bill Condon, director of Dreamgirls and the last two Twilight films, will direct the movie, which begins filming at Shepperton Studios in May.