'Beauty and the Beast' Timeline (June 2014 - May 2015)

Beauty and the Beast is set to begin filming in just a few days, so now is the time to take a look back at everything that has happened since director Bill Condon was first announced back in June 2014. Below you will find a selection Beauty and the Beast related news, tweets, and photos from the past year, as well as links to recent interviews with Josh Gad and Audra McDonald discussing the project.

Be sure to follow Beauty and the Beast Movie News on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram for all the latest news. Beauty and the Beast is set for release on March 17, 2017.

June 2014
June 4, 2014- Bill Condon set to helm Beauty and the Beast 

September 2014
September 29, 2014- Stephen Chbosky takes over writing duties from Evan Spiliotopoulos

January 2015 
January 26, 2015- Emma Watson cast as Belle in Beauty and the Beast

I'm finally able to tell you... that I will be playing Belle in Disney's new live-action Beauty and the Beast! It was...
Posted by Emma Watson on Monday, January 26, 2015

March 2015
March 4, 2015- Luke Evans in talks to play Gaston

March 4, 2015- Dan Stevens joins Beauty and the Beast in titular role

pic.twitter.com/GKiJKyE5H9

— Dan Stevens (@thatdanstevens) March 5, 2015

March 5, 2015- Emma Watson welcomes Dan Stevens and Luke Evans to the cast of Beauty and the Beast

@EmWatson Why thank you Belle!! 💘 #beautyandthebeast pic.twitter.com/eCPFI4vuDB

— Luke Evans (@TheRealLukevans) March 5, 2015

@EmWatson Grrrrrr

— Dan Stevens (@thatdanstevens) March 5, 2015

March 7, 2015- Producer Todd Lieberman reveals Beauty and the Beast starts production on May 18th

March 14, 2015- Tony nominee Josh Gad joins Beauty and the Beast as Le Fou

pic.twitter.com/F8rhfkNdMg

— Josh Gad (@joshgad) March 13, 2015

March 16, 2015- Disney announces Beauty and the Beast's release date (March 17, 2017)

March 16, 2015- Emma Thompson and Kevin Kline join the cast as Mrs. Potts and Maurice

March 16, 2015- Beauty and the Beast to feature new songs from Alan Menken and Tim Rice

March 27, 2015- Audra McDonald joins Beauty and the Beast as Garderobe

April 2015
April 7, 2015- Luke Evans begins rehearsals in London

Good morning London. Sun is shining, it's like a Disney movie. Oh! #gaston #firstdayrehearsals pic.twitter.com/MnT5W8AOuj

— Luke Evans (@TheRealLukevans) April 7, 2015

April 10, 2015- Ian McKellen joins Beauty and the Beast as Cogsworth

I am excited to be making my Disney debut under the guidance of director Bill Condon and in the company of his talented cast including Emma Watson, Luke Evans, Emma Thompson and Kevin Kline. Just hoping it all goes like clockwork! http://bit.ly/1I6BG40

A photo posted by Ian McKellen (@ianmckellen) on Apr 13, 2015 at 9:21am PDT

April 11, 2015- Emma Watson and Josh Gad welcome Ian McKellen to the cast

@IanMcKellen there couldn't be a better person for Cogsworth. Welcome! X pic.twitter.com/Nn8w6MwKyr

— Emma Watson (@EmWatson) April 11, 2015

.@IanMcKellen just joined the cast of #BeautyAndTheBeast with us! Um. Insane. Welcome Cogsworth. I look forward to doing battle with you.

— Josh Gad (@joshgad) April 11, 2015

April 13, 2015- Gugu Mbatha-Raw joins 'Beauty and the Beast' as Plumette

April 13, 2015- Lyricist Tim Rice tweets from Beauty and the Beast cast & crew dinner

Just enjoyed excellent meet greet dinner with Beauty film cast and crew. And eat. New songs from me 'n the legendary Alan Menken

— Sir Tim Rice (@SirTimRice) April 13, 2015

April 14, 2014- Josh Gad shares first photo of the cast from the London table read

Can't wait for you to be our guest.

A photo posted by Josh Gad (@joshgad) on Apr 14, 2015 at 11:37am PDT

April 15, 2015- Ian McKellen shares an extraordinary account of Beauty and the Beast's first table read in London

BEAUTY AND THE BEAST starts! The first read-through of a film-script gathers together the cast to meet 'round a table...
Posted by Ian McKellen on Wednesday, April 15, 2015

April 15, 2015- Producer Todd Lieberman tweets from London

In London for #BeautyAndTheBeast prep. My inner child has fully emerged.

— Todd Lieberman (@toddlieberman) April 15, 2015

April 21, 2015- Ewan McGregor joins Beauty and the Beast as Lumiere

April 21, 2015- Stanley Tucci rounds out the cast as Cadenza

April 23, 2015- Ewan McGregor posts first Beauty and the Beast related photo

Practice.

A photo posted by Ewan Mcgregor (@mcgregor_ewan) on Apr 23, 2015 at 2:59pm PDT

April 26, 2015- Bill Condon's longtime collaboration with editor Virgina Katz continues on Beauty and the Beast

May 2015
May 4, 2015- Luke Evans shares a photo of himself with composer Alan Menken

Best food, Best sake and without doubt the BEST company!!! thank you guys! @daisylowe @almenken pic.twitter.com/AyhHYgnOSA

— Luke Evans (@TheRealLukevans) May 4, 2015

May 5 & 6, 2015- New behind the scenes photos of Luke Evans and Josh Gad in the recording studio

@joshgad and I recording! My what a guy!!! That's Gastoooooooooooooon!!!! #beautyandthebeast pic.twitter.com/cshfkBeMRG

— Luke Evans (@TheRealLukevans) May 5, 2015

One more pic from my two days pretending I was a recording artist..... #mywhataguy #beautyandthebeast #gaston pic.twitter.com/IME9z0IOT7

— Luke Evans (@TheRealLukevans) May 6, 2015

May 11, 2015- More behind the scenes photos from Luke Evans

#script #protein #doubleshotamericano Wednesday! let's be having you!!!

A photo posted by thereallukevans (@thereallukevans) on May 13, 2015 at 1:43am PDT

Interviews
"Emma Watson is Slightly Terrified to Sing in Beauty and the Beast" (Variety)

Josh Gad discusses Frozen and Beauty and the Beast with Collider

Josh Gad discusses Beauty and the Beast on CBS' The Talk

Josh Gad: "I'm excited for people to see what they're dreaming up right now because it is unbelievable." (Golden Derby)

Josh Gad: "It's exactly what you would want it to be." (IGN)

Josh Gad discusses Beauty and the Beast with The Hollywood Reporter

Audra McDonald discusses her role in Beauty and the Beast (The Roanoker)

Josh Gad discusses Beauty and the Beast, Frozen, and The Book of Mormon on Larry King Now