The Disney On Ice version of Beauty and the BeastPhoto: WILLIAM WEST/AFP via Getty Images
This year marks the 30th anniversary of Beauty and the Beast becoming the first animated film to be nominated for Best Picture at the Oscars, and while that might seem like an oddly specific anniversary to celebrate (tell us you’re that missed the actual anniversary without telling us They missed the actual anniversary), but that’s apparently what ABC is using as the lynchpin for its new TV special, Beauty and the Beast.
says the special will be a combination of animation and live-action, which unfortunately means no one will be dressing up like a teacup and dancing around. What it will have are “never-before-seen musical performances” and “new sets and costumes inspired by the classic story,” with the musical performances all “[paying] pays homage to the original animated favorite while also contributing to its iconic story.” (Whatever that means.)
The special is executive produced by Jon M. Chu (of the upcoming Wicked dyad) and directed by Hamish Hamilton, a veteran of these types of live TV events (The Little Mermaid Live!, this year’s Emmy Awards, Grammy Awards and the last). Super Bowl halftime show). The special will be available December 15 on ABC and a day later on Disney+. Again, this is the 30th anniversary of Beauty And The Beast’s Best Picture nomination, not the 30th anniversary of Beauty And The Beast’s release. That would have been last year, when Disney announced a Beauty and the Beast prequel show about Gaston, with brand new music by Alan Menken… although that project has since been delayed and THR says it’s not happening at all.
But hey, some sort of Beauty and the Beast celebration! A story as old as time! New performances that pay homage to the original while expanding on its iconic history!