Live-Action Movie Musical BEAUTY & THE BEAST Planned by Disney for 2011/2016?- Page 4

[ray-andallthatjazz86]

Posted: 6/5/14 at 9:30am

Anna Kendrick has spoken about her desire to take a break from doing musicals after PITCH PERFECT 2. She's already playing a princess in Disney's INTO THE WOODS. Then again, I'm sure Belle is a dream role for a lot of actresses of her generation.
You know Lea Michele is already finding dirt on Condon so she can blackmail him to get the lead.

[Michael Bennett]

Posted: 6/5/14 at 9:32am

It's definitely going to be a movie musical.

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 6/5/14 at 9:33am

Is Maggie Smith too old for Belle?

[Roscoe]

Posted: 6/5/14 at 9:40am

It is official -- at long last, Big Hollywood has finally RUN THE F*CK OUT OF IDEAS.

At least it isn't Rob Marshall. But with Condon directing, be ready to see a lot of the back of people's heads as soon as they start singing.

[jbroadway4]

Posted: 6/5/14 at 10:50am

Colleen Ballinger or Laura Osnes for Belle. Done!

Colleen as Belle: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q8VYC-ngYm4
Updated On: 6/5/14 at 10:50 AM

[dreaming]

Posted: 6/5/14 at 10:52am

It's going to be an A-lister. Laura Osnes and Colleen Ballinger are not Kristen Bell type stars. They're going to get huge stars for the film.

That said, if they launch a revival of the musical, Osnes would likely be at the top of the list to play Belle.

[jbroadway4]

Posted: 6/5/14 at 10:56am

Yeah, I know that they wont use them. But maybe they could do it like "Hairspray" and cast a no-one (Even though both of them aren't no-ones) as Belle and then the rest of the cast are big stars.

[Mrtrobz]

Posted: 6/5/14 at 11:03am

A young Anne Hathaway would have been great. Amanda Seyfried certainly looks the part and has the star power but her voice is far too thin in my opinion. If Arianna Grande could act maybe she would be a good contender she certainly is young and beautiful enough and has the voice but she leaves a lot to be desired. This is a tough one to cast. You need someone with both looks and talent for Belle.

[jbroadway4]

Posted: 6/5/14 at 11:05am

Ariana Grande is an actress as well. She has been on Broadway in "13" and has her own show on Nickelodeon.

[Mrtrobz]

Posted: 6/5/14 at 11:24am

I am aware she has had acting roles but from what I have seen she may lack the emotional capabilities of the character.

[degrassifan]

Posted: 6/5/14 at 11:27am

Maybe they will go the Cinderella route and cast big names for the supporting roles (i.e. Cate Blanchett as Lady Tremaine, etc) and relatively unknowns as the leads (i.e. Lily James as Cinderella)?

Laura Osnes is a great idea, but isn't she pushing 30 in about two years? Belle is supposed to be 18 (albeit a mature 18 year old). I haven't seen Maleficent, but Elle Fanning is and looks Aurora's age (16), and Lily James, while 24, looks 18 (Cinderella's age in the animated movie). Also, some of the choices mentioned for Gaston and the Beast are all older actors. It might work for Gaston but not the Beast.

Otherwise, I'm excited for this! First Cinderella, now Beauty and the Beast!
Updated On: 6/5/14 at 11:27 AM

[dreaming]

Posted: 6/5/14 at 11:29am

Lily James isn't that unknown-she was on Downton Abbey-arguably the biggest success of Masterpiece Theater's run. (I knew who she was.)

[Mrtrobz]

Posted: 6/5/14 at 11:33am

I am hoping that if this is a musical then Gyllenhal will get the chance to show off his pipes in it after missing out on Into the Woods. There are so many possibilities for Gaston and Beast in this movie IF they do indeed go down the musical route. Chris Pine, Hugh Jackman, Patrick Wilson...

Michelle Dockery did audition for Into the Woods by singing Home from BATB perhaps she would be a good choice. :) Updated On: 6/5/14 at 11:33 AM

[RW3]

Posted: 6/5/14 at 11:36am

My Dream Cast
Belle- Shailene Woodley/Laura Osnes/Alexandra Burke
Beast- Ramin Karimloo
Gaston- Kellan Lutz(don't kill me)
Maurice- Terrence Mann
LeFou- Josh Gad

[beautywickedlover]

Posted: 6/5/14 at 12:02pm

James Durbin from 'American Idol' season 10 gave an amazing performance as the Beast in the 2006 Santa Cruz "Kids On Broadway's" production. He'd be great.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I9e6CHF6wxc

Belle can be played a 30 year old if they look young enough. Andrea McArdle played the role on Broadway when she was 36. Here is Megan Hilty, who turned 33 this year, singing "Home". She'd be wonderful.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9NwteslgNMo

Also, I'm not as big of a fan of this person as I once was, but Katharine McPhee would not be a bad idea for Belle.

"LeFou- Josh Gad"

Perfect!

[degrassifan]

Posted: 6/5/14 at 12:13pm

Not everyone watches Downton Abbey. I mean, I do and love it, but not everyone watches it. Plus, Lily James wasn't on the show until towards the end of season 3, and she really isn't one of the characters people think about when they mention or think about Downton (although Lady Rose is my favorite character).

An older actress playing Belle may work on stage but will be awkward on the big screen. A 30+ year old actress playing an 18 year old would not look right. I'd say cast someone between 18 and 25. Imagine if Liesl von Trapp was played on-screen by someone 26 and up.

[beautywickedlover]

Posted: 6/5/14 at 12:15pm

"Imagine if Liesl von Trapp was played on-screen by someone 26 and up."

Well, Charmian Carr was 23 going on 24 when she played Liesl. Also, Sophie Bould, the original Liesl in the 2006 West End revival, was 25 years old when she played the part.

Updated On: 6/5/14 at 12:15 PM

[Mrtrobz]

Posted: 6/5/14 at 12:17pm

I don't wanna get my hopes up that this will be a musical just yet but given the director and writer it seems promising. I wonder how they could make the furniture look realistic in live action.

[degrassifan]

Posted: 6/5/14 at 12:50pm

"Well, Charmian Carr was 23 going on 24 when she played Liesl. Also, Sophie Bould, the original Liesl in the 2006 West End revival, was 25 years old when she played the part."

Charmian Carr was 21 when she played the role, and yes Sophie Bould was in her mid-20s, but she was also on stage and not on film. Stage and film are two completely different mediums. Maybe if they intentionally aged Belle a few years, then it would be okay.

[beautywickedlover]

Posted: 6/5/14 at 1:20pm

I think Ariane Rinehart would make a wonderful Belle.

"Charmian Carr was 21 when she played the role"

You're right she was around 21 and 22 when she was filming the role and she was turning 23 the year the film was released. My bad!

Updated On: 6/5/14 at 01:20 PM

[Starship]

Posted: 6/5/14 at 2:25pm

When can we expect this? I'm going to guess 2018. By then, many of the actors you're discussing for the role of Belle would be too old. The youngest would be Ariana who would be going on 25. Laura Osnes would be 33. To be honest, I would expect a Disney Channel-ish type star or popular TV actress at the time to play Belle. Think Lily James or Ariana Grande.

Updated On: 6/5/14 at 02:25 PM

[beautywickedlover]

Posted: 6/5/14 at 2:34pm

I think Emmy Rossum would also make a lovely Belle.

Updated On: 6/6/14 at 02:34 PM

[Starship]

Posted: 6/5/14 at 2:43pm

Without a doubt, I would definitely hope Hugh Jackman was involved. Be it the Beast or Gaston (a role he has played on stage). Alongside him, it'd be fun to see Imelda Stauton or Maggie Smith as Mrs. Potts with Josh Gad as Lefou, Alan Rickman as Monsieur D'Arque, and Jonathan Freeman as Cogsworth. I'm pretty sure that Belle, Gaston, the Beast, and possibly even Lumiere will be given to larger A-list actors. But for the smaller roles, I thought it'd be fun to see those actors/actresses.

It's unfortunate that Emma Watson is attached to a different version of Beauty and the Beast as she'd be stunning as Belle.
Updated On: 6/5/14 at 02:43 PM

[beautywickedlover]

Posted: 6/5/14 at 3:35pm

I think it would be cool to have Paige O'Hara or Susan Egan make a cameo as the lady who says, "I need six eggs."

[degrassifan]

Posted: 6/5/14 at 3:39pm

I think Ariane Rinehart would make a wonderful Belle as well! I don't think this will be out until 2018-2019. Cinderella was announced in 2010 and is coming out in 2015, so this might be a long wait as well. Unless they take advantage of the animated-to-live-action trend and make it quickly with a 2016 or 2017 release date.