‘Beauty and the Beast: A 30th Celebration’: See Josh Groban & H.E.R. in First Photo
ABC‘s big hybrid live-action and animated special, Beauty and the Beast: A 30th Celebration, is approaching in just over a month. The special directed by Hamish Hamilton will air on Thursday, December 15, and be available for streaming the following day on Disney+.
Ahead of the broadcast, ABC has released a first-look photo of Beauty (H.E.R.) and the Beast (Josh Groban) to help everyone envision exactly what to expect from the unique event.
See the photo below:
ABC Disney
In the image, H.E.R. has dressed in a smart suit that’s the same gold shade Belle wore in the form of a ball gown for the animated film, while Groban is cloaked in the same shade of blue the Beast donned in the film. The storyboard-style sketches in the background give a hint at what to expect from the hybrid animated nature of the program, showing how they will use original materials from the 1991 movie to enhance the live production.
The special is set to honor one of the most culturally beloved and critically acclaimed movies in Disney’s animated arsenal. The original Beauty and the Beast is the first, and one of only three animated films to ever be nominated for Best Picture at the Oscars.
The cast of the two-hour event is rounded out with Martin Short playing Lumière Shania Twain as Mrs. Potts, David Alan Grier as Cogsworth, Rizwan Manji as LeFou, Jon Jon Briones as Belle’s father, Maurice, and Leo Abelo Perry as Chip. The legendary Rita Moreno will serve as the narrator for the event.
The celebration will feature new never-before-seen musical performances, brand-new sets, and breathtaking costumes inspired by the classic film.
Beauty and the Beast: A 30th Celebration, Premieres Thursday, Dece,ber 15, 8/7c, ABC
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O
Nope. Cultural appropriation, hard pass.
10 3
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O
Love the musical score but not enough to watch this travesty.
8 2
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G
Disgusting.
8 3
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G
Despicable co-opting of an all white classic. Revisionist history will never obscure the truth.
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O
Attention black people: Write your own stories.
6 3
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B
Why is Belle dressed like a stud? Hard pass for me.
3 2
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O
I won't support any race changes for iconic characters. No black James Bond, Santa Claus, Cinderella etc.. Forced diversity has the opposite effect from what SJWs intend. It's counter productive.
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B
What's next, black Snow White with 7 dwarf rappers? Black Goldilocks, Peter Pan, Tinker Bell? Stop this theft.
4 3
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B
This is another sad day for us all. You want a princess to be another color than the original intended, write a movie. Stop making little girls of any color feel bad. When you change an iconic princess, it makes those who identify with her, no matter who they are, feel like less than acceptable. It’s the adults who bring out questions like, ‘why is he or she this color and not this….’ That IS WHAT is wrong. My children and I love this movie. We will not be watching it. You make a Beauty and the Beast 2 and it’s another princess with another name and skin color, no problem we will watch it and embrace it. But this HAS to stop. Why didn’t we change the Lion King to all white actors on Broadway? Why did the white Sign Language guy get fired, because he couldn’t represent the ‘black Lion King’. This is a shame.
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C
Y'all need to grow the hell up
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P
I agree with many others here. Race changes to entrenched fairy tale characters conflict with endearing memories and do nothing to right racism in the real world. I love many of the performers but don't feel enticed to watch this event.
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B
Why can people not see that BET and ALLBlack are reverse racism? POCs can use the N word, thug etc. but no one else should? And yet they want to take over anything they can from other's creativity. Message to black people, you can't steal your way to brilliance.
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