With Disney's live-action Beauty and the Beast remake getting a prequel series on Disney+, it begs the question: will the show dive deeper into the now-canonically queer LeFou's sexuality?
Josh Gad, who plays Gaston's comically woebegone sidekick in the 2017 film, addressed the topic during an appearance on the "Just for Variety" podcast. "You’re going to have to tune in when this show airs to see what we’re working up, but in the process of working on it, we’re asking ourselves every relevant question about these characters and endeavoring to do right by them and by this world,” said Gad.
Reportedly titled The Little Town, the Beauty and the Beast prequel show will follow Gaston, LeFou (Louie) and Louie's step-sister Tilly as they venture on an unexpected journey set in motion by a "surprising revelation" about Tilly's past. “I think that we have origin stories here that are unbelievably exciting because they’re unexpected," Gad added. "And I think ‘expect the unexpected’ is all I can really say. And not just with regard to LeFou and Gaston but to a lot of the new characters that we’re introducing."
The Beauty and the Beast remake courted controversy when, ahead of its release, director Bill Condon revealed the film would include a moment alluding to LeFou being gay. However, after it turned out the scene in question was a blink-and-you'll-miss-it shot where LeFou dances with one of Gaston's associates, Stanley, Disney was criticized for misleading audiences during the movie's promotional campaign, only to fall short when it came to actual LGBTQ+ representation.
Beauty and the Beast is one of a handful of recent Disney films delivering what many regard as superficial queer representation, along with 2019's Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker, Pixar's 2020 animated movie Onward and, most recently, the Mouse House's live-action 101 Dalmatians prequel/re-imagining Cruella. It remains to be seen if the Tale as Old as Time's prequel show bucks this trend.
Developed, executive produced and show-run by Gad, Edward Kitsis and Adam Horowitz, the Beauty and the Beast prequel series is slated to begin filming in Spring 2022. It will feature an original soundtrack by longtime Disney composer and EGOT Award-winner Alan Menken, with Liesl Tommy directing the first episode.
Source: Variety