David Farnor | On 11, Feb 2022

Disney+ has officially hit pause on its Beauty and the Beast prequel series, with the production firmly on the back burner for the near future.

The limited musical series, from Disney Branded Television and ABC Signature, is set to star Luke Evans (The Alienist) and Josh Gad (Frozen 2), reprising their roles as Gaston and LeFou (Louie) from the 2017 live-action remake of the Disney classic. Joining them will be Briana Middleton (The Tender Bar) as Louie’s stepsister, Tilly.

Set in the iconic kingdom of Beauty and the Beast years before the Beast and Belle’s epic romance, the series will follow Gaston and LeFou as they set off with LeFou’s step-sister, Tilly, after a surprising revelation from her past comes to light, sending the unlikely trio off on an unexpected journey filled with romance, comedy, and adventure. 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 harbours many secrets.

The eight-episode series is developed, executive-produced and written by Gad, Edward Kitsis and Adam Horowitz (Once Upon a Time), each serving as a co-showrunner. The series’ creative team also includes director Liesl Tommy (Eclipsed) and the EGOT Award-winning composer Alan Menken, with lyrics by Oscar-nominee Glenn Slater (Tangled).

But somewhere in that mix of creative ideas and talent, the series has come unstuck, with the decision to pause the project reportedly due to the scripts and music either not coming together in the right direction or in time. Filming was set to begin this summer but pushing back into the autumn was not possible due to other talent commitments, so instead the whole thing has been halted.

“We tried to make it all work but under the gun it wasn’t meant to be… for now,” said Gad on Twitter. “These characters and this story will live on, but sometimes the best intentions & reality collide & nothing can be done.”

The news comes as some surprise, with only just this week Rita Ora announced as joining the cast to play a fugitive with surprising abilities and a secret that could impact the whole kingdom.

 

Gaston and LeFou series officially a go at Disney+

16th June 2021

Disney+ has officially given the green light to a Beauty and the Beast prequel following Gaston and LeFou.

The limited musical series, from Disney Branded Television and ABC Signature, will star Luke Evans (The Alienist) and Josh Gad (Frozen 2), reprising their roles as Gaston and LeFou (Louie) from the 2017 live-action remake of the Disney classic. Joining them will be Briana Middleton (The Tender Bar) as Louie’s stepsister, Tilly.

The eight-episode series is developed, executive-produced and written by Gad, Edward Kitsis and Adam Horowitz (Once Upon a Time), each serving as a co-showrunner. The series’ creative team also includes Tony Award-nominated director Liesl Tommy (Eclipsed), who has come on board as an executive producer and will direct the first episode. The project will feature an original soundtrack from the EGOT Award-winning composer Alan Menken, who will also serve as executive producer, and lyrics for the first episode will be by Oscar-nominee Glenn Slater (Tangled).

Set in the iconic kingdom of Beauty and the Beast years before the Beast and Belle’s epic romance, the series will follow Gaston and LeFou as they set off with LeFou’s step-sister, Tilly, after a surprising revelation from her past comes to light, sending the unlikely trio off on an unexpected journey filled with romance, comedy, and adventure. 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 harbours many secrets.

“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,” said Gary Marsh, president and chief creative officer, Disney Branded Television.

“There are few more precious gems in the Disney library than this iconic franchise, and this prequel is both a love letter to what’s come before and its own spectacular adventure,” commented Jonnie Davis, president, ABC Signature. “Josh, Eddy and Adam’s vision gives us a window into the origin of Luke’s Gaston and Josh’s LeFou with the twist of a new partner in crime—Tilly, played by the luminous Briana Middleton. This dream team would not be complete without the genius Alan Menken returning to write even more glorious music for the franchise he helped create. We’re so grateful to Gary, Ayo, Michael and everyone at Disney Branded Television and Disney+ for their unwavering support. We cannot wait to start shooting.”

Production will begin in spring 2022.

 

Gaston prequel series in the works at Disney+

20th March 2020

A Gaston prequel series is in the works at Disney+.

The House of Mouse’s subscription service, which arrives in the UK on 24th March, has made no secret of its plans to build on its brands and franchises to create original content that will have in-built audiences. And so, with Monsters, Inc. and Rogue One prequels in the pipeline at the platform, Disney is repeatedly also working on a series set before The Beauty and the Beast.

The show, which is now in development, will see Luke Evans and Josh Gad reprise their roles as Gaston and LeFou from the 2017 live action film. First reported by THR, sources close to the project have confirmed to Deadline that it is in development from ABC Signature Studios.

Once Upon A Time creators Eddy Kitsis and Adam Horowitz are behind the programme. It is co-written by Gad, Kitsis and Horowitz, with a six-episode musical event planned. The trio will executive produce the series, along with Evans.

Disney has not commented on the reports.

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