Beauty and the Beast star Josh Gad teases prequel series could explore LeFou’s coming out story
A Beauty and the Beast prequel series following iconic villain Gaston and his bumbling sidekick LeFou has been officially ordered by Disney. (Disney)
Josh Gad has hinted that the upcoming Beauty and the Beast prequel series could delve into LeFou’s sexuality.
The 2017 live-action remake of Beauty and the Beast strongly hinted that LeFou (played by Gad) was gay and had feelings for Gaston (played by Luke Evans).
Much was made of the film’s supposed gay themes, but queer fans were mostly left waiting for more when LeFou’s sexuality was “confirmed” in a blink-and-you’ll-miss-it dance scene.
Now, Disney+ is developing a prequel series focusing on Gaston and LeFou – and Gad is already dropping hints about where the show might go.
When asked if the upcoming Beauty and the Beast spin-off will delve into LeFou’s coming out journey on the Just for Variety podcast, Gad said his character’s origin story is “unbelievably exciting”.
“You’re going to have to tune in when this show airs to see what we’re working up, but in the process of working on it, we’re asking ourselves every relevant question about these character and endeavouring to do right by them and by this world,” Gad said.
“I think that we have origin stories here that are unbelievably exciting because they’re unexpected. And I think ‘expect the unexpected’ is all I can really say.
“And not just with regard to LeFou and Gaston but to a lot of the new characters that we’re introducing.”
Beauty and the Beast failed to impress with its ‘exclusively gay moment’
According to Deadline, the prequel series will follow Gaston and LeFou as they set off on a journey with LeFou’s stepsister Tilly (Brianna Middleton) after a “surprising revelation” from her past comes to light.
Ahead of the release of Beauty and the Beast in 2017, director Bill Condon said the film would feature an “exclusively gay moment”.
There was significant disappointment among queer Disney fans when that moment turned out to be LeFou dancing with a man for just a couple of seconds.
The scene still proved highly controversial in some territories, with Malaysian censors trying to cut the same-sex dance from its screenings.
