Disney is reportedly moving forward with a new live-action feature film focused on Gaston, the arrogant antagonist from its classic animated tale Beauty and the Beast. The project marks the latest attempt by the studio to mine its vast back catalogue for character-led spin-offs, a strategy with a mixed record of success.
Project Details and Creative Team
According to a report from Deadline, the film is in the early stages of development. Dave Callaham, known for his work on Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings, is attached to write the screenplay, with Michelle Rejwan set to produce. An earlier draft of the script was penned by Kate Herron and Briony Redman.
Specific plot details remain under wraps, but the project is said to carry "swashbuckling" tones. It appears to be a separate venture from a previously planned, but now cancelled, Gaston and LeFou prequel series that would have seen Luke Evans and Josh Gad reprise their roles from the 2017 live-action remake.
Gaston's History and a Changed Fate
Gaston first appeared as the primary villain in Disney's 1991 animated classic, voiced by Richard White. The character is a vainglorious hunter whose obsession with Belle turns violent after she rejects his proposal. The 2017 live-action remake, starring Luke Evans as Gaston opposite Emma Watson's Belle, was a major box office hit, earning over $1.26 billion worldwide and securing Oscar nominations for its design.
Interestingly, the live-action adaptation nearly gave Gaston a different ending. Screenwriter Evan Spiliotopoulos revealed in 2017 that an initial idea saw Gaston cursed to become the new Beast rather than falling to his death. However, the studio decided at the "eleventh hour" to stick with the traditional narrative. It is currently unclear how this new standalone film will connect to the 2017 version.
Fan Backlash and Disney's Spin-Off Strategy
The announcement has been met with considerable bewilderment and criticism from fans on social media. Many have questioned the decision to centre a film on a character widely viewed as a straightforward villain.
"Is he misunderstood too? C’mon man not all villains need a backstory, just let ‘em be a*******," wrote one user on X. Another asked pointedly, "Genuinely who cares about Gaston enough for anyone to want this?" Others suggested more popular characters for the spin-off treatment, such as Ariel and Eric or Aladdin and Jasmine.
This project continues Disney's long-running strategy of reworking its animated library through live-action remakes and villain-focused stories. While films like Maleficent and Cruella found favour, recent efforts like the 2025 Snow White have struggled, indicating the audience's appetite for such adaptations may be waning.
