Earlier today, we told you that Emma Watson is working with director Guillermo del Toro on a new live action version of Beauty and the Beast.

Looks like if one is good, two is better.

Disney has announced they will develop a live-action version of the classic fairy tale as well, simply called The Beast.

The House of Mouse has hired Joe Ahearne to pen the script for the film.  Ahearne wrote the script for director Danny Boyle’s upcoming movie Trance and indications are that Disney could be looking for a darker take on the fairy tale than we saw in the animated version.

Disney has done well in recent years with live-action fairy tale stories.  Alice in Wonderland was a hit and Oz, the Great and Powerful delivered huge box office receipts this weekend.   The studio is also developing live action version of Cinderella and Sleeping Beauty.  Beauty will focus on the villain of the piece and is set to star Angelina Jolie.