Photo Coverage: Disney's BEAUTY AND THE BEAST Premieres in Manila

Manila, Philippines--Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures, through Columbia Pictures, together with MCA Music (Universal Music Philippines), held a special advance screening of its live-action retelling of the animated classic "Beauty and the Beast" (1991) at IMAX Megamall Theatre in Mandaluyong Monday night.

Produced by David Hoberman and Todd Lieberman and directed by Bill Condon, "Beauty and the Beast's" Emma Watson (Belle) and Dan Stevens (The Beast) lead the star-studded cast in this lavish remake, which features the original film's most popular songs by composer Alan Menken and the late lyricist Howard Ashman such as "Belle," "Be Our Guest," "Gaston," and its title track, among others, as well as new songs by Menken and lyricist Tim Rice.

The film also stars Luke Evans (Gaston), Kevin Kline (Maurice), Josh Gad (Lefou), Ewan McGregor (Lumiere), Stanley Tucci (Maestro Cadenza), Gugu Mbatha-Raw (Plumette), Audra McDonald (Madame Garderobe), Ian McKellen (Cogsworth), and Emma Thompson (Mrs. Potts).

"Beauty and the Beast," based on the French fairytale of the same name written by Jeanne-Marie Leprince de Beaumont (1711-1780), follows Belle, the forward-thinking daughter of an eccentric inventor named Maurice, who's taken as a prisoner by a beast in his enchanted castle. Despite her initial fears, Belle made friends with the castle's equally enchanted residents and learns to look beyond the beast's repulsive exterior and see through her heart her master's compassionate side.

Erik Davis, movie ticketing website Fandango's managing editor, recently told Mashable.com, that "Beauty and the Beast" has already surpassed Pixar Animated Studios' "Finding Dory" (2016) in ticket pre-sales, making "Beauty and the Beast" the current fastest-selling children and family-oriented film.

"Finding Dory," opened at $135 million in ticket sales and earned a total of $1.028 billion. "Beauty and the Beast" is, however, only projected to become the third-highest film that will open in the month of March behind "The Hunger Games" (2012) at $152.5 million and "Alice in Wonderland" (2010) at $116 million.

In the Philippines, "Beauty and the Beast" officially opens on Thursday, March 16.

In the meantime, buy and listen to the film's soundtrack HERE.

Photos: Oliver Oliveros

Disney's BEAUTY AND THE BEAST Premieres in Manila (Gerard Sison-Beast)
Disney's BEAUTY AND THE BEAST Premieres in Manila
Disney's BEAUTY AND THE BEAST Premieres in Manila
Disney's BEAUTY AND THE BEAST Premieres in Manila
"Little Big Shots" Elha Nympha
(Center) Noel Comia, Jr.
Timmy Pavino
(Center) Kyle Echarri
Ylona Garcia
Filmmaker Mark Reyes, Kylie Nicole Padilla, Kate Valdez, Ruru Madrid, Rocco Nacino
(Third from Right) Paolo Ballesteros