Disney has found a trusty sidekick for the self-obsessed Gaston in the new "Beauty and the Beast" live-action movie.
"Frozen" star Josh Gad will play Lefou, the oft-abused friend of the vain hunter, in Disney's reimagining of its 1991 animated classic, according to The Hollywood Reporter. The first American actor cast will star alongside Brits Emma Watson (Belle), Dan Stevens (Beast/Prince) and Luke Evans (Gaston).
The "Beauty and the Beast" story comes from a French fairy tale about a young woman who agrees to live with the Beast in his palace in exchange for her father's release. She eventually falls in love with him and breaks the curse put upon him by a wicked fairy.
Disney created the character of Lefou specifically for its Oscar-nominated animated movie. The studio has not confirmed whether the new movie will incorporate the musical numbers from the 1991 feature, but Lefou's inclusion and Watson's announcement in January seem to indicate it will stick close to that source material.
The casting news comes a day after Gad announced to shareholders that Disney will make a "Frozen 2" movie. He will reprise his role as the dim-witted snowman, Olaf, and also voices the character in the new short film, "Frozen Fever," which will air before Disney's latest live-action movie "Cinderella."
The 34-year-old actor also stars in the new FX series, "The Comedians," with Billy Crystal. The show premieres on April 9.
Bill Condon will direct the film, a re-telling of Disney's Oscar-nominated animated feature. The studio hired Stephen Chbosky, who directed Watson in "The Perks of Being a Wallflower," to write a new script. Evan Spiliotopoulos turned in the original draft.
Production on "Beauty and the Beast" will start later this year. The film is slated to premiere in 2016.
