With nearly six months since it was first put on hold, Josh Gad explains why the Beauty and the Beast prequel show has been delayed. The Tony-nominated actor starred in the live-action adaptation of the classic Disney fantasy film as LeFou, the best friend and sidekick to the loudmouthed brute Gaston.
Featuring a more flamboyant personality than his animated counterpart, Gad’s LeFou became mired in controversy when director Bill Condon confirmed his version of the character to be gay, much to the chagrin of conservative audiences and countries, and to the disappointment of LGBTQ+ audiences, who criticized it for its lackluster representation.
Despite this division and some feeling it inferior to the original, the live-action Beauty and the Beast movie was a box office smash, grossing over $1.264 billion against its reported $200 million production budget, cementing Disney’s hopes to build a franchise around it.
One such project that was moving forward was Little Town, a Beauty and the Beast prequel show revolving around Gad’s LeFou and Luke Evans’ Gaston with Alan Menken returning to compose. Though casting began earlier this year with Brianna Middleton, Jelani Alladin, Rita Ora and Hawkeye’s Fra Fee all signed on, Little Town found itself halted indefinitely this past February, and now one star is sharing why.
While speaking with Collider to discuss Central Park season 3, Josh Gad opened up about the in-development Beauty and the Beast prequel show. The LeFou actor confirmed both he and Gaston’s Luke Evans are still hopeful to make the project and indicated that its delay stems from budgetary concerns. See what Gad shared below:
“I think that Luke [Evans] and I are still very much interested in the story. There were elements that were really, really stunning and really brilliant. It’s that blessing and curse of, when you’re doing something as big and as ambitious as a Beauty and the Beast prequel, and you’re getting to play with the crown jewels, it’s gonna be an expensive undertaking.”
“In terms of ambition and scope, and trying to marry it to one of the most expensive movies in the Disney library, its ambition ran away with it. There are ways that we can tell this story and live up to the promise of what it can be, but also do it in a way that won’t break the bank.”
“Ultimately, I think that will be the way forward. I hope we get to do it. I know we’re still very interested. There’s some amazing stuff that Adam [Horowitz] and Eddy [Kitsis] did, and that Alan Menken did, that I hope audiences get to see and hear, one day.”
Gad’s indication that budgetary concerns were a primary factor in the Beauty and the Beast prequel show’s delay marks an interesting departure from previous reports about the series, which indicated creative differences and scheduling issues amidst the ongoing pandemic.
Though the connotation for creative differences is often one of the general vision for a project, a disagreement over budget ideas between a studio and creatives isn’t entirely unheard of, as directors have come and gone from many films due to feeling they can’t make the movie they want to on the budget being offered.
Given the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has seen many budgets balloon for both the big and small screens in order to follow new health protocols, it seems understandable Disney would want to keep Little Town’s budget low while putting money towards other projects.
Given the very CGI-heavy nature of the film, it was understandable the Beauty and the Beast live-action adaptation ran up to $200 million. With Little Town only being known to focus on LeFou and Gaston, Gad’s indication of budgetary concerns does raise the interesting question of what kind of adventure was in store for the two in the Beauty and the Beast prequel show.
While audiences await word of Little Town’s possible revival, they can revisit the live-action Beauty and the Beast movie streaming on Disney+.
2023 has kicked off with a couple of big cancelations, which signals a potentially rough year coming up, which many other players throughout Hollywood will share. Here’s a look at the 2023 cancelations!
1899
The big-budget series from the creators of DARK had big expectations and big shoes to fill.
The mystery sci-fi show was one of Netflix’s most ambitious shows in years, using state-of-the-art technology and featuring an impressive ensemble cast.
Why was 1899 canceled?
Data provided to What’s on Netflix from European SVOD analytics company Digital i suggests that the completion rate was ultimately too low and likely wasn’t growing substantially. Their data suggests only around a third of people who started the show went onto finish the title.
Inside Job
The animated series Inside Job had been initially given a season 2 renewal order back in June 2022. Still, in January 2023, the creator confirmed rumors that Netflix had reversed the decision to renew.
In a statement on Twitter, the show’s creator Shion Takeuchi said:
I’m heartbroken to confirm that Netflix has decided to cancel season 2 of Inside Job. Over the years, these characters have become real people to me, and I am devastated not to be able to watch them grow up. Reagan and Brett deserved to get their ending and finally find happiness. And I would have loved to been able to share what was in store with you all.
He added, “To everyone who watched, thank you for coming along on the ride. Even though I’m sad, it helps to know that there’s people out there who cared just as much about these characters as me.”
This weekend is going to be quite the eventful one for Netflix subscribers! Following the success of last year’s inaugural event, Tudum officially returns this Saturday with a day that promises to bring with it a lot of exciting new reveals about Netflix’s biggest shows and movies!
The 24-hour event will bring fans the scoop on over 120 fan-favorite shows and movies including Bridgerton, Emily in Paris, Shadow and Bone, Wednesday, Manifest, You, Outer Banks, The Witcher, Heartstopper and more!
From first looks at upcoming titles, casting news, renewals and release date confirmations, there’s no telling what could be coming our way this weekend. The only thing that is certain? Fans won’t want to miss the event, but how exactly can you follow along from home?
Where to watch Tudum 2022
If you’re hoping to be able to watch this year’s Tudum event online, you’re in luck! While some events such as San Diego Comic-Con and D23 take place in-person with only select presentations from the event available to stream online, Tudum takes place exclusively online as a virtual event.
This Saturday, fans across the globe will be able to head to Netflix’s official YouTube account to watch the event online with the event set to be made available in 29 languages worldwide!
Do you have to pay for Tudum?
If you’re hoping to watch Tudum this weekend, don’t worry about having to break out your wallet or credit cards to pay for the event. The virtual event is free to Netflix fans worldwide as there is no cost to stream the event which can be viewed free of cost on the Netflix YouTube channel!
Allison Janney and Jurnee Smollett are the main attraction of the Netflix movie Lou as the two leading ladies. Janney plays a John Wick-esque character (complete with a beloved dog, but don’t worry, Jax makes it out alive!) while Smollett plays her neighbor, Hannah.
Lou is a hardened recluse living on the fringes of their secluded island, while Hannah is a single mother struggling to make ends meet to take care of her daughter, Vee.
A horrible storm hits the island, and someone kidnaps Hannah’s daughter in the midst of it, forcing her to turn to Lou for help. While searching for Vee, the two women are forced to confront some of the dark secrets from their past.
Even though Smollett and Janney are the stars, Lou has a great cast of actors that also includes Logan Marshall-Green and Greyston Holt (remember him as one of the hot werewolves from Bitten?).
Netflix movie Lou cast list
For those unfamiliar with Allison Janney, the powerhouse actress is a Hollywood staple. Throughout her many decades in the business, Janney has won countless accolades, including seven Primetime Emmy Awards, an Academy Award, and a Golden Globe Award. She has also secured two Tony nominations.
Janney first rose to prominence playing C.J. Cregg on The West Wing. More recently, she starred as Bonnie Plunkett for nine seasons in the CBS sitcom Mom. Janney won her Oscar for I, Tonya, and has also appeared in projects like Masters of Sex, The Help, Juno, and many others. Next, she’ll star in the comedy miniseries Mrs. American Pie, the comedy film The People We Hate at the Wedding, and the sci-fi drama True Love.
Jurnee Smollett has been acting since she was a kid, with recurring roles in shows like Full House and On Our Own. But most people probably know her as Jess Merriweather in Friday Night Lights. The last few years have really helped cement Smollet’s status as a superstar. She played Dinah Lance/Black Canary in Birds of Prey and is reportedly going to reprise her role in a spinoff standalone movie at HBO Max.
Smollett also delivered an incredible performance in the short-lived but acclaimed HBO series Lovecraft Country and she recently starred opposite Miles Teller and Chris Hemsworth in the Netflix thriller Spiderhead. Next, she’ll star in the courtroom drama film The Burial with Jamie Foxx and Tommy Lee Jones.
Completing the cast trifecta is Logan Marshall-Green, who plays the film’s primary antagonist, Philip. You might recall Marshall-Green playing Trey Atwood in The O.C. He also recently completed a stint on the ABC series Big Sky.
Here’s the complete cast list for the Netflix movie:
Allison Janney as Lou
Jurnee Smollett as Hannah
Logan Marshall-Green as Philip
Ridley Asha Bateman as Vee
Matt Craven as Sheriff Rankin
Greyston Holt as Chris
Daniel Bernhardt as Tony
RJ Fetherstonhaugh as Gerry
Andres Collantes as Deputy Torres
Marci T. House as Agent Lee
Toby Levins as Agent Hampton
Netflix movie Lou starts streaming on Friday, September 23.