Cate Blanchett, Emma Watson 'in Cinderella remake' Actress Cate Blanchett was an elf queen but she's set to become an evil step-mother in her next role. Picture: The Australian Source: AFP CATE Blanchett is set to play an evil step-mother. The actress, 43, has signed on the portray Cinderella's nasty step-mum in a big-screen update of the classic fairy tale. And Emma Watson is reportedly in talks to take the title role in the Disney film, which will be directed by Kenneth Branagh, according to showbusiness bible, Variety. Variety reports while the actress, 22, does not yet have the role, she is in very early talks with the studio to play the character. While Disney would not comment on the discussions with Watson, the studio also reportedly considered actresses Gabriella Wilde (The Three Musketeers), Saoirse Ronan and Alicia Vikander (Anna Karenina), but couldn't lock down deals due to scheduling and other considerations. Cinderella will be written by Chris Weitz, who penned About a Boy. Meanwhile The Harry Potter star is about to be seen in the Sofia Coppola film Bling Ring, about the gang of teenagers who robbed the homes of stars such as Lindsay Lohan and Paris Hilton.