Emma Watson will not be Cinderella

Earlier in the month we brought you the news that Disney was circling Emma Watson as the first choice to play Cinderella in its forthcoming reboot from director Kenneth Branagh.

However, Variety 's Marc Graser now reports that the star has turned down the opportunity to don the glass slipper, putting the studio right back at square one.

Watson was a new name to be linked to the role after Branagh took over the project’s reins from Mark Romanek, so Disney does have a pre-existing shortlist to return to.

Saoirse Ronan, Gabriella Wilde and Alicia Vikander were all thought to have been in the running before Watson came into the picture, so don’t be surprised to see one of them signed up sooner rather than later.

With Cate Blanchett already in position as the wicked stepmother, Disney is hoping to begin filming in London this autumn ahead of a 2014 release date.