Lily James cast as Disney's Cinderella after Emma Watson decides slipper doesn't fit

The slipper didn’t fit for Emma Watson but it does for Lily James.

The British actress will play Disney’s Cinderella, Variety has confirmed.

The 24-year-old, who has appeared in Downton Abbey three times as Lady Rose MacClare, will star alongside Cate Blanchett as her cruel stepmother.

James's acting credits also include athletics film Fast Girls, as well as TV series Secret Diary of a Call Girl and Just William.

The role of Cinderella was offered to Emma Watson, but the actress turned it down.

The film is the latest in a slew of fairytale films such as Tim Burton’s Alice in Wonderland, Sam Raimi’s Oz: The Great And Powerful, and Robert Stromberg’s upcoming Maleficent, starring Angelina Jolie as sleeping beauty’s evil nemesis.

Cinderella has been in development for two years, with screenplay drafts completed by Twilight: New Moon’s Chris Weitz and The Devil Wears Prada’s Aline Brosh McKenna.

Disney also considered Saoirse Ronan (Atonement) Gabriella Wilde (The Three Musketeers) and Alicia Vikander (Anna Karenina) for the role, but could not sign the actresses due to their other commitments.

The film is due to go into production this autumn and should be released in 2014.