The 8-episode series will centre on the life and journey of Gaston and LeFou before Belle.
If you are a true Beauty and The Beast fan and you’ve always wanted to know more about Gaston’s life before he met the beautiful Belle, then your wish has been granted.
Disney has officially green-lit the prequel series which will be eight episodes long following the life of Gaston and his bumbling side-kick LeFou.
The Plot
The series explores the life of Gaston before he met Belle. LeFou was largely involved in his early days, so the series will be all about the journey that these characters experienced.
Tilly, step-sister of LeFou, will discover something about her past that takes them on a journey to uncover the whole truth. The press release about the movie gave an idea of what to expect from the show:
“While the mysteries of the past are uncovered and the dangers of the present grow, old friends and new enemies reveal that this familiar kingdom harbors many secrets.”
Who’ll Be Back And Who Won’t
Luke Evans and Josh Gad, who played the role of Gaston and LeFou in the 2017 live-action remake of Beauty And The Beast, are reprising it again for the prequel.
Their camaraderie was praised by the audience and critics alike when the movie first came out, and we can expect to see the series shed light on how the friendship of the unlikely pair was formed.
Gary Marsh, chief creative officer at Disney said:
“For anyone who’s ever wondered how a brute like Gaston and a goof like LeFou could have ever become friends and partners, or how a mystical enchantress came to cast that fateful spell on the prince-turned-beast, this series will finally provide those answers … and provoke a whole new set of questions.”
While promoting the 2017 movie, the director Bill Condon hinted about the possibility of an LGBQTI element in the storyline. However, in the end, the pivotal moment described was just LeFou dancing with one of Gaston’s henchmen. For the series, many people are hoping that more will be revealed about LeFou’s character in this regard and wondering if it could become a monumental step for Disney.
Another lead character of the movie is Tilly, who will be played by newcomer Briana Middleton. Although Middleton is just getting started, she has a few impressive projects in the pipeline already like George Clooney’s directorial feature The Tender Bar.
According to the makers, the trio will go on a journey after Tilly stumbles upon some big revelation. Until now no news of Emma Watson joining the cast has come to light, but it is also highly unlikely for her to be a key character because the prequel takes place far before Gaston met her.
Still, the fans are waiting with bated breath for her to at least make a guest appearance.
A Capable Team
Initially, the title of the prequel was Small Town, but according to the latest development it has been changed to Beauty And The Best (still a working title though). You know the show is in good hands when the executive producers are Edward Kitsis and Adam Horowitz, the same duo who gave us Once Upon A Time.
Disney has taken no chances and even scored award-winning Alan Menken for the series. After all, he was the one responsible for the soundtrack of the 1991 classic, and then he successfully did it again in 2017.
Glenn Slater has been appointed to write lyrics for the first episode, and if you don’t know who he is you might be familiar with his soundtrack from Tangled. Liesl Tommy of Eclipsed is set to direct the pilot so there is no doubt audiences will be hooked from the very first scene.
Release date
Unfortunately, we’re in for a bit of a wait before we can get our first glimpse of the final product.
According to the Hollywood Reporter, the production will not start until Spring 2022 which leaves no exact premiere date to mark in our calendars just yet.
The prequel idea has been in the works for a long time now. Evans has confirmed that the first two episodes of the series have been written, and they even got a chance to hear some of Alen Menken’s soulful melodies.
But for now, we will have to keep our ears tuned for any more updates while we eagerly await the exciting new series.
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