Beauty and the Beast prequel series delayed at Disney+

Friday 11 February 2022 by Charlotte Whyatt  News

Disney+ has temporarily put the brakes on its live-action Beauty and the Beast prequel series.

The eight-episode series was set to begin shooting in Europe this summer but a number of creative elements reportedly aren’t ready yet. 

Rather than delay shooting for a time, which could’ve potentially caused scheduling issues with its cast and meant they’d be dealing with unfavourable weather, the streamer decided to put the project on hold indefinitely. 

The untitled musical series was first greenlit in 2017 and will follow Gaston (Luke Evans) and his sidekick LeFou (Josh Gad) several years before the start of the live-action remake.  

As well as exploring the beginnings of their friends, it’ll also show how the Prince became a victim of the enchantress's spell which transformed him into the hideous Beast.  

Newcomer Brianna Middleton was set to LeFou’s stepsister Tilly, an entirely new character for the series, while singer Rita Ora has recently been cast in as “a fugitive with surprising abilities who carries a secret that could potentially affect an entire kingdom.”

All eight episodes were co-written by Gad, Lost’s Edward Kitsis and Adam Horowitz who will also serve as co-showrunners. 

Both the 2017 live-action and the 1991 animated version of Beauty and the Beast are available to stream on Disney+ now. 

Source: Variety