Disney+ officially ordered a Beauty and the Beast prequel series centered on Gaston and LeFou. A spin-off featuring the devilish duo has been buzzed about since the tale as old as time received a 2017 live-action adaptation. During the press circuit, both Luke Evans (Gaston) and Josh Gad (LeFou) openly spoke about the desire to revisit their characters and explore how they teamed up in the first place.
In 2020, it was revealed that Disney+ was indeed developing a prequel limited series. Once Upon a Time creators Adam Horowitz and Eddy Kitsis joined forces with Gad to flesh out the story. Gad and Evans immediately signed on to reprise their roles from Bill Condon's hit film, which starred Emma Watson as Belle. Iconic composer Alan Menken was even said to be concocting original music. Over a year later, the streaming service has officially ordered the entire series.
Disney+ confirmed that a Beauty and the Beast (working title) prequel series had been ordered. Touting Evans and Gad's return, the mouse confirmed some exciting rumors and revealed new details about the forthcoming project. For one, the wicked twosome is turning into a party of three. Their official statement teased the show's plot, reading:
"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 harbors many secrets."
Tilly will be played by Briana Middleton, set to make her feature film debut in Amazon Studios' George Clooney-helmed adaptation of the acclaimed memoir The Tender Bar. Disney confirmed Horowitz, Kitsis, and Gad as co-showrunners and Menken's involvement as a composer and executive producer. Oscar-nominee Glenn Slater (Tangled) will join Menken as lyricist for the pilot. The creative team also boasts Tony Award-nominated director Liesl Tommy (Respect, Dolly Parton's Heartstrings) as an executive producer and director of the first episode.
Disney Branded Television and ABC Signature revealed that the limited musical series would consist of eight episodes, two more than initially expected. The journey will be an adventurous tale that both serves as an origin story and a love letter to the beloved classic. Among other questions posed by its predecessor, viewers will get a crash course on the beginnings of Gaston and LeFou's unlikely partnership.
The statement also teased an answer to how a certain mystical enchantress came to cast her spell over the prince and his castle. With that, it's a wonder whether the series will brim with cameos by Evans and Gad's fellow Beauty and the Beast film co-stars. That would be welcome, along with answers to questions like, why Gaston started eating four dozen eggs? And did he know the prince before their thunderous fight for Belle? Fans will have to wait a bit to say bonjour to the show as it won't begin production until the summer of 2022.
Source: Disney