Disney’s live-action “Beauty and the Beast” won’t hit theaters until next year, but the film is already making history. Variety reports that the newly released trailer for the Emma Watson-led musical received 127.6 million views in its first 24 hours, setting a new record.
The “tale as old as time” beat out “Fifty Shades Darker’s” 114 million views and “Star Wars: The Force Awakens’” 112 million views. The tally of “Beauty and the Beast’s” views doesn’t include China.
“Disney reported that talent support of the launch accounted for over 29 million views on Facebook alone, led by an incredible 27 million views on Emma Watson’s page,” Variety writes.
The trailer was released on Monday, and within 30 minutes of its launch, #BeautyAndTheBeast was the leading worldwide trend on Twitter. The new spot recreates a number of scenes from the original 1991 classic, the first animated film to receive an Oscar nomination for Best Picture.
The first teaser trailer for the live-action film also broke a record. It was viewed 91.8 million times in its first 24 hours, more than previous champ “Star Wars: The Force Awakens,” which earned 88 million.
Along with Watson, the film’s cast includes “Downton Abbey’s” Dan Stevens as the Beast, Emma Thompson as Mrs. Potts, Luke Evans as Gaston, Josh Gad as Le Fou, Kevin Kline as Maurice, Ewan McGregor as candelabra Lumiere, Ian McKellen as clock Cogsworth, and Gugu Mbatha-Raw as Plumette.
As per Watson’s suggestion, Belle has a job in the film: She’s an inventor. Watson, who is best known for her role as Hermione Granger in the “Harry Potter” franchise, will go down in history for playing two of the biggest, most beloved book worms of all-time.
Directed by Bill Condon (“Dreamgirls”), “Beauty and the Beast” opens in theaters March 17, 2017, and if the enthusiasm about the trailer is any indication, the film will dominate the box office.
