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 U.S. cinemas March 1, 2017.

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

    It was subsequently confirmed that Dan Stevens from “Downton Abbey” 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.

    (SD-Agencies)