We are counting down to the release of Cinderella here at FemaleFirst, the latest Disney movie to be given a live action makeover in recent years.
Cinderella
Cinderella comes almost a year after the huge box office success of Maleficent, which was based on the Sleeping Beauty tale that we know so well. It went on to be one of the highest grossing movies of 2014, and Cinderella is looking to repeat that success.
The movie sees Kenneth Branagh back in the director's chair as he puts his own spin on this well-known and much loved tale. Branagh has teamed up with actress Lily James for the first time, as she takes on the title role in the film. Cinderella is the biggest role and movie of her film career to date and looks set to send her star rocketing.
The first clip from the movie was released last week and now we have more great moments from the film to share with you:
Branagh has brought together a wonderful cast for Cinderella, as he mixes young and emerging talent with some of the biggest names in cinema. Prince Charming, the wicked stepmother and the fairy godmother are the three other iconic characters from the Cinderella story, and they will be played by Richard Madden, Cate Blanchett, and Helena Bonham Carter.
Much like James, Madden is best known for his television role of Rob Stark in Game of Thrones, but he is now branching out on to the big screen with this major new role. This is the first in a handful of film and TV projects that we are going to be seeing him in this year.
James, Madden, Blanchett, and Bonham Carter are joined on the cast list by Hayley Atwell, Stellan Skarsgard, Derek Jacobi, Holliday Grainger, and Sophie McShera.
The story of Cinderella follows the fortunes of young Ella (James) whose merchant father remarries following the death of her mother. Eager to support her loving father, Ella welcomes her new stepmother (Blanchett) and her daughters Anastasia (Grainger) and Drisella (Sophie McShera) 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 honour 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 (Madden).
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 (Carter) steps forward and - armed with a pumpkin and a few mice - changes Cinderella's life forever.