Original ‘Beauty And The Beast’ Is A Metaphor For AIDS Battle
The revelation that Beauty And The Beast will include Disney’s first ever openly gay character has only helped to increase excitement towards the live-action remake. Which is rather impressive since it was already being touted as one of the most anticipated films of 2017.
Director Bill Condon confirmed to Attitude that Josh Gad’s Le Fou is Disney’s first homosexual character, while during the same interview he alluded to one of the reasons why the decision was made to make this step. That’s because the filmmaker also opened up about the history of Disney and Beauty And The Beast, explaining how the 1991 incarnation owes a huge debt to lyricist Howard Ashman.
Howard Ashman, who previously found fame with the musicals God Bless You, Mr. Rosewater, and Little Shop Of Horrors, worked on The Little Mermaid with his working partner Alan Menken, before he was then asked to write the music for Beauty And The Beast, too.
