#The Beauty And The Beast Prequel Series Has Been Delayed

The “Beauty and the Beast” prequel series would have introduced LeFou’s stepsister, Tilly, played by Briana Middleton, and it would have followed them as they embarked on a proverbial, “Hobbit”-style “unexpected journey” with Gaston after a surprising revelation from Tilly’s past came to light. Disney executives teased that we would learn how Gaston and LeFou became friends in the first place and how a mystical enchantress came to cast the spell that transformed the Beast from a prince into a hairy monster.

I’m not trying to be cynical, but I’m not really sure who, if anyone, was calling for this series. Was there really any kind of fan demand for it? Or was it just that Gad — who was set to be co-showrunner here with Edward Kitsis and Adam Horowitz and also voices Olaf in “Olaf Presents” and the “Frozen” series — had an idea for further LeFou adventures that he was passionate about?

Composer Alan Menken, who provided new and old songs for the live-action “Beauty and the Beast” remake, was also set to return for this prequel. Personally, I found the remake, starring Emma Watson and Dan Stevens, a chore to sit through and vowed that it would be the last one of those live-action Disney remakes that I ever saw (a vow I’ve managed to keep until now). However, the movie made over a billion dollars at the box office in 2017, so maybe Disney just thought it could milk that cow for a little more cash with this series.

Whether it has now given up on that idea or will resume development on the series later remains to be seen.