The former Harry Potter star Emma Watson is reportedly in early talks to play Cinderella in a new live-action Disney movie. Variety have reported that Kenneth Branagh is likely to direct the new movie, with Cate Blanchett on board as the wicked stepmother.

Watson wasn’t the first to be considered for the role, though. Disney aren’t commenting on the British actress’ possible involvement but there were at least three other young hopefuls in line for the role, including Imogen Poots (Need For Speed), Alicia Vikander (Anna Karenina) and Gabriella Wilde (The Three Musketeers). Neither of these could be pinned down to the role, because of other commitments and scheduling difficulties. Since the Harry Potter franchise ended, Watson – along with her co-star Daniel Radcliffe – has been working hard to ensure that she manages to make a career break away from being stereotyped as a Hermione-style character. Her performance in The Perks of Being a Wallflower was well-received and she will shortly be appearing in Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg’s comedy 'This Is The End.'

Emma Watson

Emma Watson mooted to play Cinderella in a forthcoming Disney movie

Cinderella is the latest in a string of fairy tales to receive the live-action cinematic treatment, in recent years. It follows in the (glass-slippered) steps of Alice in Wonderland, Oz: The Great and Powerful and Maleficent, all offering a sideways take on children’s classics.