Actress Lily James (“Downton Abbey”) has been cast as Cinderella in Disney’s upcoming live-action interpretation of the beloved classic tale. The film is being directed by Sir Kenneth Branagh and stars Cate Blanchett as the iconic evil stepmother.

Additional announcements regarding Cinderella are expected in the coming weeks.

Aline Brosh McKenna (27 Dresses, The Devil Wears Prada) and Chris Weitz wrote the film. While most people know the story from Disney’s 1950 animated classic, there are variations going back as far as the 1st century BC.

(Photo Credit: Simon Burchell/WENN.com)