Disney's live-action adaptation of Beauty and the Beast was one of their most successful projects, but even still, the thought of a prequel series centered around Gaston (Luke Evans) and LeFou (Josh Gad) strikes me as odd. Disney officially handed out a series order for eight-episodes earlier this week, and while speaking with Collider, Josh Gad could barely contain his excitement for what he calls one of the most ambitious projects he's ever been a part of.
I can tell you right now that it is one of the most ambitious projects I've ever been a part of. Luke and I are so excited about bringing these characters back to life alongside a brilliant and unique new talent in Briana Middleton playing this incredible new character named Tilly. Liesl Tommy, who's our director, is planning to do some unbelievably ambitious things with this series as well as our showrunners, Adam [Horowitz] and Eddie [Kitsis], who are really, really, really going places I think audiences are not necessarily ready for. I cannot be more excited about this show. I think it's going to be enormously special.
The scripts for the Beauty and the Beast prequel series are still being written, but Josh Gad expects that production will begin early next year. Despite my skepticism about the series, I am interested to see what Gad has in store for us.
Per the series' official synopsis, the Beauty and the Beast prequel will be "set in the iconic kingdom of Beauty and the Beast years before the Beast and Belle's epic romance, the series will follow Gaston (Evans) and LeFou (Gad) as they set off with LeFou's stepsister, Tilly (Middleton), after a surprising revelation fro her past comes to light, sending the unlikely trio off on an unexpected journey filled with romance, comedy, and adventure. While the mysteries of the past are uncovered and the dangers of the present grow, old friends and new enemies reveal that this familiar kingdom harbors many secrets."