When Beauty and the Beast trailers and clips first began to debut, it was clear that the live-action remake strongly resembled the original animation classic. Some even joked about it being a shot-for-shot remake. But now we know that the new Beauty and the Beast features a significant shift that's a long time coming: The movie will openly depict a gay character.
Of course, Disney has employed gay subtext for years. In perhaps the most high-profile example, "Let It Go" from Frozen was widely regarded as a coming-out anthem, and many read Elsa herself as gay. And just recently Finding Dory included visuals of same-sex parents. But queer themes in Disney movies go much further back than these newer moments. Indeed, the original Beauty and the Beast—with its depiction of Belle's unease and sense of unbelonging in her community, in tandem with the Beast's feelings of alienation—traced this narrative itself.
Now, though, Disney is doing away with subtext in favor of out-and-out representation. LeFou, Gaston's sidekick and admirer, will be gay in the new Beauty and the Beast, according to director Bill Condon. Condon revealed as much about the Josh Gad character to Attitude, sharing: "LeFou is somebody who on one day wants to be Gaston and on another day wants to kiss Gaston...He’s confused about what he wants. It’s somebody who’s just realizing that he has these feelings. And Josh makes something really subtle and delicious out of it. And that’s what has its payoff at the end, which I don’t want to give away."
Condon makes clear that LeFou's sexuality will be deliberate, not a matter of audience interpretation. He explains that LeFou's narrative will feature "a nice, exclusively gay moment in a Disney movie." All in all, it's progress Disney fans have been eagerly anticipating, but hey, that LGBTQ hero would also be nice.
Related:
- Emma Watson Explains Her Strict No-Fan-Selfie Policy
- Beauty and the Beast Bathing Suits Are Here
- Emma Watson Sings 'Belle' in a New 'Beauty and the Beast' Preview
Also: Emma Watson Gives Strangers Advice for $2 at Grand Central (from Vanity Fair)
