Josh Gad and Luke Evans, who starred as LeFou and Gaston in Disney’s live-action Beauty and the Beast remake, are reuniting for a limited series for Disney’s streaming service Disney+. The project – helmed by Once Upon a Time creators Eddy Kitsis and Adam Horowitz – will be a six-episode musical event that takes place long before the events of the live-action movie.
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Composer Alan Menken, who wrote music for the film, is also in talks to join once again. Gad, Kitsis, and Horowitz will showrun the prequel series, which is reportedly in the early stages of development and will expand on the world of Beauty and the Beasts.
In the live-action movie, which was released in March 2017, the narcissistic Gaston (played by Evans) schemes for the hand of Belle (portrayed by Emma Watson), similar to the original animated film. However, LeFou (played by Gad) was originally meant to be a gay man grappling with his attraction and friendship with Gaston. The inclusion – or inadvertently called the “exclusively gay moment” by director Bill Condon – caused a stir among conservatives and in anti-LGBTQ+ countries like Russia. The inclusion also caused criticism from people in the LGBTQ+ community, as the scene amount to a seconds-long moment at the end of the film.
No other cast members in the film are attached to the prequel series, but there is a possibility for cameos.
Evans, Gad, Kitsis, and Horowitz will executive produce the series, while Gad, Kitsis, and Horowitz will pen the scripts. ABC Signature Studios is also involved as the studio for the project.