After the phenomenal success of Mamma Mia! Sing Along a few summers ago, it was only a matter of time before the gimmick was used again.
With Grease scheduled to screen in a sing-along format at selected Vue Cinemas this month, THR are reporting that Disney have gotten behind the bandwagon with plans to re-release Beauty and the Beast in this fashion – also for a limited run.
These plans follow existing proposals to re-release the film in 3D. The film’s stereoscopic conversion, however, has been pushed back to 2012 meaning that the sing-a-long print (or digital copy) released will present the classic in its original two dimensions – albeit with a high definition makeover.
With Grease sing-along alleged to have already made the studio an estimated 5,000 despite its limited run, it is difficult to view this news without a certain level of cynicism. That said, Beauty and the Beast was one of Disney’s greatest animated features, and I have no doubt that it will draw customers back again and again.
Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment Executive Vice-President Lori MacPherson has this to say:
“This is a very exciting release for the company as one of America’s most cherished animated musicals is diligently restored and rereleased to all new heights in high definition.”
Beauty and the Beast sing-a-long will run theatrically from September 29th through until October 2nd in the U.S., details of U.K. release dates will presumably follow.
