The director for this year’s “Beauty and the Beast” has confirmed that at one point, Beyonce was their first choice for one of the roles in the Disney live-action remake. Bill Condon, who directed the “Crazy In Love” singer in “Dreamgirls,” confirmed that she was unavailable when both he and Disney asked her to join the production.
Condon said that he has long wanted to reunite with Beyonce. He always thought that she has not been involved with enough movie musicals. He believed a role in “Beauty and the Beast” would have been a good fit for her.
However, she turned it down because the role was too minor. She would have played Plumette in “Beauty and the Beast,” who was a feather duster for much of the film. Gugu Mbatha-Raw, famous for her roles in the “San Junipero” episode of Netflix and the movie “Beyond the Lights,” eventually took over the role.
Despite not working with him on “Beauty and the Beast,” Condon looked at the bright side, saying that perhaps Beyonce was looking for a more experimental future of the big screen musical entertainment. He took her latest album and concert film “Lemonade” as a prime example of her dedication to pushing the envelope.
Beyonce’s screen record
Incidentally, the “Crazy in Love” singer’s role in “Dreamgirls” was her most substantial role in a film yet.
Planned as a star vehicle for her, it proved to be the breakout movie for another actress when Jennifer Hudson won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for her portrayal of Effie. The movie recently celebrated the 11th year since it hit the theaters.
Beyonce’s last screen credits were as Queen Tara in the animated movie “Epic,” and as Sharon Charles in the domestic thriller “Obsessed,” with Idris Elba.
“Beauty and the Beast” in an exclusive club
“Beauty and the Beast” got off just fine even without Beyonce. It was going to be a hit either way but even Disney was surprised when it broke the $1 billion mark at the worldwide box office. The movie went on to earn a total of $1.26 billion by the end of its theatrical run. The grosses the movie was able to rake in made it the year’s highest grossing film.
Beyonce does not have any film due in the next few years. At one point, she was attached to star in “A Star is Born” before being replaced by “Telephone” collaborator Lady Gaga. Bill Condon, on the other hand, is currently in the writer’s room, tweaking the script for the upcoming movie “Bride of Frankenstein.”
