Official "Beauty & the Beast" Film Adaptation Thread

[The Josh]

As far as special effects go, I hope they can use a combination of puppetry and CGI for the enchanted objects. I somehow don't see that coming, though, it'll probably end up 100% CGI.

[haterobics]

"Donny Osmond/Hugh Jackman as the Beast or Gaston"

Do you really think anyone in Hollywood has ever said "Donny Osmond" in the last 20 years?

[Visceral_Fella]

I don't enjoy her at all, ever. I wish Rachel McAdams or Anne Hathaway could have done this.

[Princeton Returns]

Rachel mcadams would have been perfect a few years ago.

I like emma but she always seems to lack warmth

[Bilbo3]

Natalie Portman would have been a nice choice. No clue if she can sing. An Unknown could have worked also.

[Princeton Returns]

Yes agrees on that one

[Sondheimite]

The Beast: Chris Pine.
Gaston: Hugh Jackman.
Lumière: Alan Cummings or Christoph Waltz.
Cogsworth: John Cleese.
Mrs. Potts: Audra McDonald or..I mean damn.. Just get Angela again.
Lefou: Josh Gad.
Maurice: Bill Murray
Wardrobe: Patti LuPone
Babette: Scarlett Johansson

[beautywickedlover]

"I like emma but she always seems to lack warmth"

Doesn't that chick from 'Twilight' lack that in all of her roles? Emma is believable in all of her films that I have seen.

[The Josh]

Could Ewan McGregor play the Beast?

[thebeautyis3]

I'd really like to see Ben Walker as Gaston.

I kind of wish they went the Cinderella route with this and kept the music out of it. The animated version was such a huge part of my childhood, and I don't know. Why mess with it?

[Mrtrobz]

I hope she can sing she is a great choice. :)

[Mr. Nowack]

Um isn't the beast supposed to be 21?? These suggestions are mid 30's - 40's.

[Visceral_Fella]

Re: Portman - YES!!!!!

@Mr. Nowack, yes, but Regina George and Carrie White were both 17 and played by Spacek and McAdams at 26. It's a movie, actors play a variety of ages. It happens.

[Bilbo3]

Mark Ruffalo would make an excellent Beast.

[darquegk]

The beast is written older on stage, though how old is debatable.

[jo]

Wasn't Terence Mann already in his mid-40's when he originated the role of the Beast on Broadway?

And that was after he played Javert in Les Miserables on Broadway, another middle-aged role.

Although when I saw Beauty and the Beast onstage, it was John Barrowman who played the Beast at the West End.

[candydog2]

On stage is different. It's not uncommon for more seasoned musical theatre actors in particular to play roles much younger than they are. Distance and make-up are more forgiving than close-ups and HD cameras.

On screen, I think a Belle and Beast who are closer in age would work much better.

[jo]

Ironically, you will only get to see the presumably young and handsome face of the Beast towards the end

It is the chemistry between the leads that will matter more, with the Beast hiding his face behind a hideous mask for most of the time.

[Ranger Tom]

I realize they need a "name," but it would be very nice if they'd cast a real Broadway star to play Beast and Belle and surround them with the "names." Laura Osnes, Mara Davi, Rachel Bay Jones, Jill Paice or a score of others would be amazing as Belle. No doubt Emma is adorable and looks the part but... I guess it could be worse; they could have cast Miley Cyrus.

[Starship]

There's a HUGE gap between Miley Cyrus and Emma. I think Emma will do a fantastic job as she definitely has the perfect combination of tenderness and confidence that is needed for the role of Belle. I am over the moon at this announcement and can't wait to watch it on the big screen!

[Noel&Cole]

I adore Emma Watson. I think she's perfect. I keep hoping we'll get her on Broadway. We've already had Daniel Radcliffe and Rupert Grint.

[haterobics]

"Um isn't the beast supposed to be 21?? These suggestions are mid 30's - 40's."

In Hollywood, the female romantic lead has to be young. The male romantic lead she's into can be played at any age.

[sueb1863]

The Beast/ Prince is supposed to be 18, although that can be changed.

Hugh is a great guy but he's too old to play Gaston.

Pine would be good as Beast or Gaston (although Gaston and Cinderella's Prince are sort of the same character on a certain level and he might not want to play another sleazeball).

[SomeOtherMe]

Honestly, one of the things I'm looking most forward to is seeing how they film "If I Can't Love Her". It's my favorite song from the Broadway version and while I imagine it will just be the Beast singing the song alone in his room, it has the potential to be an incredibly intimate and heartbreaking moment a la "I Dreamed a Dream"

[Bilbo3]

The Beast doesn't even need to be an Actor who can sing. You can easily cut "If I can't love her." Chris Pine would be a good Gaston, but we've already seen him play that character in ITW. New face please.

[beautywickedlover]

In the Broadway show, the length of the spell and the rose petals falling was changed from the Prince's 21st birthday to several years.