It’s a tale as old as time, but it’s getting a new twist! “Beauty and the Beast” is being adapted in a new format to mark over three decades since the release of Disney’s animated film. Titled “Beauty and the Beast: A 30th Celebration,” the upcoming ABC special will coincide with the 30th anniversary of the timeless fantasy’s historic Academy Award nomination for best picture, the first time an animated movie had been tapped in that category.
Directed by Jon M. Chu, who helmed “Crazy Rich Asians,” the forthcoming reimagination of Disney’s beloved story will see H.E.R. (aka Gabriella Sarmiento Wilson) putting her spin on the lead character of Belle. In an exclusive behind-the-scenes clip shared with POPSUGAR, the singer, songwriter, and actor dishes on stepping into her role.
“I’m so honored to be able to play a Disney princess, because who doesn’t want to play a Disney princess?” she says. “And, of course, ‘Beauty and the Beast’ is one of my favorites, so my inner child was screaming.” Josh Groban — who stars alongside H.E.R. as the Beast — adds of their upcoming TV special, “The first thing that hit me was the music. . . . There are so many people there but they’re all so excited to tell the story. So excited to be a cog in this wheel.”
From the theatrics and musicality to the exciting live setting, “Beauty and the Beast: A 30th Celebration” is expected to wow audiences next week. According to H.E.R., she looks forward to viewers seeing how she breathes new life into her rendition of Belle. “There’s a strength in Belle, you see it in the movie, but I think I’m really trying to bring that out and show women they can be anything they want to be. Of course, nobody’s ever seen a Black and Filipino Belle, so it’s really cool that young Filipino Black girls get to see a Disney princess that looks like them. It’s a special project. It’s nothing anybody’s ever seen before.”
If you are eagerly awaiting the modern take on the fan-favorite story, keep reading for all the details we have about the highly anticipated special, including the cast, the release date, first-look photos, and exclusive videos.