Beauty and the Beast live-action remake will feature three new songs

The new version sees Oscar-winning composer Alan Menken re-recording songs from the original alongside fresh material from himself and Tim Rice

Beauty and the Beast fans may be aching to revisit their favourite musical hits from the 1991 animation when its live-action remake finally hits screens, but it turns out there's plenty more to look forward to.

Entertainment Weekly has revealed three new songs will feature in the Disney film, penned by the film's original composer Alan Menken - who worked alongside the late Howard Ashman on the score - and lyricist Tim Rice.

The tracks will include ballad 'For Evermore' sung by Dan Stevens as the Beast; which Menken says describes, "this moment where the Beast now loves Belle, and he realizes that she misses her father, and he acknowledges she’s no longer a prisoner, and when she sees her father’s in trouble, he says, ‘Go to him, go.' And he voluntarily lets her go."

"He’s basically singing about how he now knows what love is, as he watches her leave, and he’s climbing up the turret of the castle as she recedes into the distance, just watching her go further and further away."

The second new track is titled 'Our Song Lives On'; a number shared between Emma Watson's Belle and her father Maurice, as played by Kevin Kline. "It’s done in a number of forms," Menken states. "The first time it’s sung, it’s Belle’s father singing as he’s completing a music box, and basically it’s [about], 'How does a moment live forever? How do you hang on to precious moments?'"

"Then, it’s reprised by Belle, and then it’s the song that’s actually over the end credits at the end of the movie. Disney hasn’t announced it yet, but there’s going to be some wonderful singer on the end credits song." he teased.

The final original track is titled 'Days in the Sun'; producer David Hoberman seems particularly keen on the number, believing it's destined to win Menken his ninth Academy Award - following wins for the original Beauty and the Beast, The Little Mermaid, Aladdin, and Pocahontas.

"'Days in the Sun' is a moment when all of the objects in the castle —and Belle — are going to sleep," Menken revealed. "Basically, everybody in the castle is having memories of what it used to be when they had their days in the sun. It’s sort of a combination of a lullaby and a remembrance of happier days for everybody."

We've also heard details about how Belle's iconic yellow dress will make its transition to screen, alongside a feminist twist added to the princess' backstory. The film hits UK cinemas 17 March 2017.