Disney+ Hotstar to bring a limited musical series on Beauty and the Beast

Disney+ Hotstar premium recently announced a limited musical series of the beloved classic fairy tale, Beauty and the Beast. The eight-episode series will be a prequel to the 2017 live action film of the same name. Luke Evans and Josh Gad are all set to reprise their roles as the haughty Gaston and the comedic LeFou (Louie) respectively. Briana Middleton (The Tender Bar) will be essaying the role of Tillie, Louie’s step sister. 

Josh Gad, Edward Kitsis and Adam Horowitz, the duo who is famous for the hit series based on fairy tales, Once Upon a Time, will join hands as co-creators and executive producers. 

The prequel will be set in the same kingdom of Beauty and the Beast, before the whirlwind romance between Belle and the Beast. The series will follow Gaston and LeFou along with Tilly on a journey filled with adventure, romance and comedy after a surprising revelation from Tilly’s life comes to light. It will see a lot of new mysteries being uncovered along with the growing danger as old friends and new enemies reveal that this familiar kingdom harbors many secrets.

Jonnie Davis, president, ABC Signature said in a statement, “This prequel is both a love letter to what’s come before and its own spectacular adventure.”

Liesal Tommy (Eclipsed), the Tony Award nominated director, will be the executive producer and direct the first episode. EGOT award winning composer, Alan Menken will be composing an original soundtrack for the series, along with being an executive producer. Oscar nominee, Glen Slater (Tangled) will pen down lyrics for the first episode. 

The introduction of the new series comes at the occasion of the 30th anniversary of Beauty and the Beast. Production is set to begin in spring 2022. 

“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, in a statemet.