You know what watching Disney’s live-action remake of Beauty and the Beast left me wondering? What are LeFou and Gaston’s backstories. Oh actually, no, I didn’t wonder that but Disney+ is going to tell us anyways with a new prequel that will follow the adventures of Gaston and his henchmen LeFou before the events of the movie.
Here’s the official synopsis:
Set in the iconic kingdom of Beauty and the Beast years before the Beast and Belle’s 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 trio off on an unexpected journey. 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.
Luke Evans and Josh Gad will reprise their roles as Gaston and LeFou, with Briana Middleton as LeFou’s stepsister Tilly. The show will be a musical live-action show with an eight-episode season and music written by Alan Menken, with Josh Gad, Edward Kitsis and Adam Horowitz serving as co-showrunners.
“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 of Disney Branded Television in a statement.
It is interesting that this is the story they choose to go with, given the conversations that cropped up around the decision to make Le Fou gay and how that representation was handled. Could it be that Disney is trying to get more villain content out, now that Cruella made waves?
There is no word yet as to when we could expect to see this show on Disney+.