According to Variety, Singer H.E.R., real name Gabriella Wilson, will play Belle in the Beauty and the Beast 30th anniversary special on ABC on December 15.
The film will be a masterful mix of animation and live-action performances. Variety reported, “Alongside a screening of the film, it will include live never-before-seen musical performances and features brand-new sets and costumes inspired by the classic story.”
H.E.R told the outlet that she was excited to play the intelligent and witty Belle under the director Jon M. Chu and Hamish Hamilton.
“I can’t believe I get to be a part of the Beauty and the Beast legacy,” she said. “The world will see a Black and Filipino Belle! I have always wanted to be a Disney princess, and I get to work with two wonderful directors, Hamish Hamilton and my favorite, Jon M. Chu. It is very surreal, and I couldn’t be more grateful.”
Chu is a prolific director of the modern age, known and praised for his work in In the Heights, The Joy Luck Club, and Crazy Rich Asians. He’s just as excited to have “Slide’”singer H.E.R on set for the new adaptation of Beauty and the Beast; he praised her talents to Variety and expressed how excited he was to work with her beyond this film, hopefully.
“With her obvious extraordinary talent and stage presence, H.E.R. is the perfect embodiment of our Belle, and we are thrilled for audiences to see her in this celebration of creativity,” Chu said. “We were both influenced as storytellers by the original animated movie, so it’s very exciting to collaborate together to honor the artistry of that timeless classic while also inspiring a whole new generation of creators.”
H.E.R took to Instagram to celebrate her newest role. She captioned the post, “PRACTICING MY DISNEY PRINCESS IN NICE ??. YOU’RE LOOKING AT THE FIRST BLACK AND FILIPINO BELLE FOR ABC’s ‘Beauty and the Beast: A 30th Celebration. I’ve always wanted to be a Disney princess ??,”
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