'Cinderella' Trailer: Disney Tries To Bring New Magic To An Old Tale

Say what you will about Maleficent and Oz the Great and Powerful, but at least they were trying to put a fresh spin on familiar tales. That's not the case with Cinderella, Disney's new live-action fairy tale directed by Kenneth Branagh. The new Cinderella trailer does try to make a case for itself by giving its heroine (Lily James) a bit more backbone, but for the most part it's the same story we already know.

At least it gives us an excuse to watch Cate Blanchett and Helena Bonham Carter swan around in pretty costumes. And maybe Game of Thrones fans will be happy to see Richard Madden and Nonso Anozie looking happy and healthy. Watch the Cinderella trailer after the jump.

Disney unveiled the new Cinderella trailer on YouTube.

Cinderella lands in theaters March 13.

The story of "Cinderella" follows the fortunes of young Ella (Lily James) whose merchant father remarries following the death of her mother. Eager to support her loving father, Ella welcomes her new stepmother (Cate Blanchett) and her daughters Anastasia (Holliday Grainger) and Drisella (Sophie McShera) into the family home. But, when Ella's father unexpectedly passes away, she finds herself at the mercy of a jealous and cruel new family. Finally relegated to nothing more than a servant girl covered in ashes, and spitefully renamed Cinderella, Ella could easily begin to lose hope.

Yet, despite the cruelty inflicted upon her, Ella is determined to honor her mother's dying words and to "have courage and be kind." She will not give in to despair nor despise those who mistreat her. And then there is the dashing stranger she meets in the woods. Unaware that he is really a prince, not merely an apprentice at the Palace, Ella finally feels she has met a kindred soul. It appears her fortunes may be about to change when the Palace sends out an open invitation for all maidens to attend a ball, raising Ella's hopes of once again encountering the charming Kit (Richard Madden). Alas, her stepmother forbids her to attend and callously rips apart her dress. But, as in all good fairy tales, help is at hand, and a kindly beggar woman (Helena Bonham-Carter) steps forward and – armed with a pumpkin and a few mice – changes Cinderella's life forever.