Official "Beauty & the Beast" Film Adaptation Thread

[best12bars]

Taz, I was starting to doubt that it WAS a musical adaptation of the film (an animated musical). I saw them stripping out the songs and using them as underscoring (ala "Fanny") but keeping the story based on the movie (Gaston, Mrs. Potts, etc.).

The only place I see the word "musical" listed is in the genre category on IMBb.com. Do you see "musical" anywhere else in the press? They only say it's based on the animated film, which doesn't necessarily mean it's a musical itself.

In fact, "Cinderella" is based on the animated musical film, and it's not a musical adaptation of the story.

They also don't credit BATB songs in the IMDb.com listing. There is no mention of "lyrics by Howard Ashman" anywhere. Just "Music by Alan Menken," but again, that could just be the underscoring.

I still think it's a musical ... right?

EDIT: I just checked again today, and I DO see credits for music AND lyrics now ... so yeah, I'm pretty sure this is a musical adaptation even if Cinderella and Maleficent were not.

[Mrtrobz]

It is a musical Emma Watson stated she had started singing lessons and apart from that all signs point to it being a musical film the director of Dream Girls, the writer of Rent,in the more expansive credits on IMDb Pro you can see the full creative team, Linda Woolverton is credited as "Based on the Animated Film and Musical Stageplay" also Tim Rice and Howard Ashman are credited as Lyricists.

[SonofRobbieJ]

Mr. Stephens had to go in and sing for them, so yes...musical.

[tazber]

I wonder why they're being so secretive (sorry, couldn't think of a better word) about that aspect.

[JP2]

How are they? Who is being secretive? Was it Watson, when she mentioned the specific songs she'd be singing in the movie? Or Condon, when he talked about how brilliant the music is? Or the original announcement that said it would include songs from the movie and stage show?

Honestly, sometimes it seems like unless everyone comes out waving bright pink flags that say THIS IS A FREAKING MUSICAL, people feel like it's being purposefully hidden.

[best12bars]

Musical = box office risk to Hollywood.

Although I don't think it's any riskier than any other genre these days. They're all risks.

And with hits like Chicago, Mamma Mia!, Hairspray, Dreamgirls, Enchanted, and Into the Woods, they need to get over it.

It's an outdated marketing reaction from the industry, and it doesn't hold true anymore (at least not for now).

[Elfuhbuh]

Disney is well-known for their musical films; I don't know why they would think that releasing a musical could be a risk. (Not that they're keeping the musical aspect of BatB a secret, but if they were.)

[Starship]

I'd be surprised if BATB didn't gross close to what Les Miz did.

[JulesReverie]

Best12bars hit the nail. They still have that 1993 Grunge anti-musical mindset, it's as if they've NEVER gotten over the 1992 mega flop of Newsies(despite the fact that Newsies vhs and dvd sales made up for the losses and went on to become a Broadway smash 20years later)

[degrassifan]

I get what best12bars is saying. They aren't hiding the fact it's a musical per se, but they aren't really saying that it is either. I feel the same way.

[Elfuhbuh]

Either way, I guess this means we can start dream-casting the side characters.

[best12bars]

I kinda wish they would go a little colorblind with the cutlery.

I mean, why not? Couldn't Cogsworth be Asian and Lumiere black? Let's get creative people.

We had a lily-white Into the Woods, and we didn't "need" to.

[degrassifan]

"I mean, why not? Couldn't Cogsworth be Asian and Lumiere black? Let's get creative people."

Oohh, can you imagine the controversy if that happened? Judging by Internet comments, it has been almost 20 years and people STILL can't get over the multiracial casting in Rodgers & Hammerstein's Cinderella. Sad but true.

I saw an early screening of Cinderella last month, and even though the main characters (Ella, Prince, Lady Tremaine, stepsisters, fairy godmother, King, Grand Duke, Ella's parents) were Caucasian because they had to resemble their animated counterparts, a lot of the extras that were cast were multiracial. It was pretty neat. At the ball, princesses from all over the world were presented to the prince. Even black maidens tried on the glass slipper and I loved that.

[Jonwo]

The UK has generous tax breaks for films hence why Disney have shot many films there like Cinderella, Avengers: Age of Ultron, Maleficent etc and it's not just them, Warner Bros do it for a number of films as well.

[Showface]

"I saw an early screening of Cinderella last month, and even though the main characters (Ella, Prince, Lady Tremaine, stepsisters, fairy godmother, King, Grand Duke, Ella's parents) were Caucasian because they had to resemble their animated counterparts, a lot of the extras that were cast were multiracial. It was pretty neat. At the ball, princesses from all over the world were presented to the prince. Even black maidens tried on the glass slipper and I loved that."


Sad thing is, in the trailer comments for Cinderella (and for some reason, Into the Woods), people were going on about how "why does political-correctness keep trying to ruin *our* fairytales!?! MAKE YOUR OWN!"...same thing with Annie....but multiracial casting would be great!

*sigh*


But...anyway, I don't think they're hiding the fact that it's a musical. I mean, advertising hasn't even started...the film has yet to even go into production, so we should wait to see how they advertise the musical aspect.

But...we all know that there are a group of moviegoers who would complain "I didn't know this was a musical!", anyway.

[Tag]

According to imdb, Timothy Spall is rumoured for Maurice, and Matt Lucas is rumoured for Lefou. (along with Emma Thompson for Mrs. Potts, which we knew)

[Bilbo3]

I really doubt anyone would care if a candlestick and a clock were being voiced by non Caucasians. We probably won't even see the actors bodies until the end when they are all human again. We might not even see their real faces as objects (AKA Alan Rickman in Alice in Wonderland).

[Jonwo]

TBH They've not said what route they'll go for the objects, I think the stage version's take where they are slowly transforming into the objects would work better in live action rather than have CG animated objects.

[Bilbo3]

It works great for stage but I think Emma Thompson dressed in a big teacup outfit would look ridiculous onscreen.

[beautywickedlover]

The Los Angeles Times reported that Timothy Spall is rumored for Maurice.

"Additional casting rumors have pointed to Watson's "Harry Potter" costars Emma Thompson as Mrs. Potts and Timothy Spall as Maurice"


Emma Watson confirms casting of Beast, Gaston in 'Beauty and the Beast'

[disneybroadwayfan22]

Timothy Spall is a little too young for Maurice. I expected older or older-looking

[JP2]

Timothy Spall would make a much better Cogsworth.

[Starship]

I can already feel the chills I'll get when the camera zooms in on Belle's cottage while the opening notes of "Belle" play in the background.

[StageManager2]

We had a lily-white Into the Woods, and we didn't "need" to.

They had a couple black people as extras during Cinderella's wedding.

Someone else mentioned that the upcoming live-action Cinderella also has multiracial extras and found it "neat." Well, I think it's insulting and just pandering to minorities. They're pretty much saying, we don't trust you for the major roles, but you can be one of the silent extras. They're just throwing in a few people of color to seem diverse. Otherwise, why even have black townspeople?

[StageManager2]

With the exception of Angela Lansbury and David Ogden Stiers, the film's vocal cast was all American. I don't think they worried about the American accents then.

It's weird that the animated films have American accents, but the live-action remakes (Maleficent, Cinderella, now Beauty and the Beast) will have British accents.

[Theatrefan2]

I hate being politically correct or incorrect but personally I find that certain casting I cannot wrap my head around. And Le Miz has just done it again. Sorry but I do not believe a black Eponine or Enjorlas. They did it the first time fine, but they could have gone back to normal casting for te cast change. As I have said just one person's opinion.