We're in for some big changes when Disney gives "Beauty and the Beast" the live-action treatment -- and it won't just be a matter of seeing the classic characters go from 2D to 3D.

In a new interview with Entertainment Weekly, Emma Watson, who plays the film's heroine, Belle, revealed that her character will get a new backstory. Instead of just spending her time reading all the books she can get her hands on, she'll have a knack for inventing as well.

"In the animated movie, it's her father who is the inventor, and we actually co-opted that for Belle," Watson told EW.

The change seems like a good one because, as Watson points out, Belle's love of reading didn't seem like enough to make her such an outsider. The actress wanted a better explanation, plus to see other ways her character spent her time.

"We created a backstory for her, which was that she had invented a kind of washing machine, so that, instead of doing laundry, she could sit and use that time to read instead," said Watson. "So, yeah, we made Belle an inventor."

That leaves Belle's father, Maurice (Kevin Kline), in need of a new occupation, but don't worry, all bases have been covered. In the remake, he'll make music boxes. Apparently, he'll also be quite protective of Belle after her mother's death, and so he'll use them to show her countries she's never visited.

Changes sometimes meet resistance from loyal fans, but so far, nothing seems drastic enough to spark outrage. We'll see what other changes Disney has in store for us when "Beauty and the Beast" opens on March 17, 2017.

[via: Entertainment Weekly]