Beauty and the Beastis currently on top of the box office, denying the mightyKong: Skull Islandits second frame in the number one spot. Before its release, I sat down with composerAlan Menkenfor an exclusive video interview. He talked about how he found out about the live-action version, working withBill Condonand the goals for the film, the 3 new songs, and more. In addition, towards the end of the interview, you may watch him play a bit of “Be Our Guest” and “Beauty and the Beast” and talk about working with the late lyricist of the original film,Howard Ashman.
Beauty and the Beastwas scripted byStephen ChboskyandEvan Spiliotopouloswith music by Disney veterans Alan Menken andTim Rice. The film starsEmma Watsonas Belle,Dan Stevensas Beast,Josh Gadas Le Fou,Luke Evansas Gaston,Ewan McGregoras Lumière,Emma Thompsonas Mrs. Potts,Gugu Mbatha-Rawas Plumette, andIan McKellenas Cogsworth,Stanley Tuccias Cadenza,Kevin KlineasMaurice,and Tony Award winnerAudra McDonaldas Garderobe.
Check out what Alan Menken had to say in the video above, and below is exactly what we talked about followed by the official synopsis and some recent links.
Alan Menken:
Here’s the official synopsis forBeauty and the Beast:
“Beauty and the Beast” is the fantastic journey of Belle, a bright, beautiful and independent young woman who is taken prisoner by a beast in his castle. Despite her fears, she befriends the castle’s enchanted staff and learns to look beyond the Beast’s hideous exterior and realize the kind heart and soul of the true Prince within.
Check out more of the footage we’ve seen from the film so far in the links below.
