- Ron Perlman as the Beast in the 1987 version ‘Beauty and the Beast’
In the wake of the success of ‘Once Upon A Time’, ABC has decided to continue with the fairy tale genre and has given a pilot order for the French fairy tale ‘Beauty and the Beast.’
Even though ABC is owned by Disney, don’t think this version will be all about talking teapots and candlesticks. This drama is being described as a “period/fantastical reimagining of the classic fairy tale set in a mythical, dangerous world wherein a beautiful and tough Princess discovers an unlikely connection with a mysterious beast.”
The pilot will be written by Jonathan E. Steinberg who has also written for ‘Human Target’ and ‘Jericho.’ Steinberg will also executive produce along with Gary Fleder and Mary Beth Basile for ABC Studios. With ‘Desperate Housewives’ now in its final season, ABC is eyeing the show as a possible series to follow ‘Once Upon A Time’ creating a Sunday night storybook drama programming block.
If this news seems a little déjà vu to you, you’re not going crazy. The CW also just recently ordered a pilot for a different version of ‘Beauty and the Beast’ but this one is a reboot of the 1980’s version which starred Ron Perlman (‘Conan the Barbarian’, ‘Hellboy’) and Linda Hamilton (‘Chuck’, ‘Terminator’ movies). This version will be geared toward a more younger audience catering to those who tune in to ‘The Secret Circle’ and ‘Vampire Diaries.’ The CW’s ‘Beauty and the Beast’ will be written by Jennifer Levin and Sherri Cooper, both who have written on ‘Brothers and Sisters’ and ‘Unforgettable.’
It will be a very interesting season if both pilots get picked up and become a series. ‘Beauty and the Beast’ is a “tale as old as time” but will the modern day style of the story win over the mythical version? Which one would you watch?
