It’s been almost two weeks since we heard that Emma Watson was officially signed as Belle in Bill Condon’s upcoming BEAUTY AND THE BEAST remake, and now, we may know who will be the one scaring her away from the West Wing.
The Tracking Board purports that Ryan Gosling is “Disney’s top choice” for the role, and that an offer has already gone out to the NOTEBOOK/DRIVE actor.
If Disney’s other recent live-action remakes are any indication, then I’d expect The Beast to be primarily rendered through CGI, limiting Gosling’s participation to voicework, possible mo-cap work, and an almost-guarenteed live-action cameo as the hairless, purdy human version of the character. Still, Condon made his bones on stuff like CANDYMAN: FAREWELL TO THE FLESH and the decidedly pro-prosthetic GODS AND MONSTERS, so maybe there’s a chance we’d see Gos all HELLBOY-ed out in a full body piece?
Regardless, I think Gosling’s a great choice for the role. He first became an A-lister through romancing his way into the hearts of ladies (and men) everywhere with THE NOTEBOOK, but has exhibited a simmering layer of intensity in stuff like DRIVE, THE BELIEVER, and ONLY GOD FORGIVES. Melding those two sensibilities should be a walk in the part for the actor, who’s not typically known for roles like this but probably wouldn’t hurt his image by doing it. Plus, the star/hotness wattage of he and Watson onscreen together would make this irresistible for much of that treasured “young adult” audience, which is strong incentive for Disney to offer the man whatever he wants (no damn sequel clause!).
Disney is sure cranking out live-action remakes of their old animated properties these days, but my affection for Condon's early work and the 1991 film (which remains, it should be noted, the only primarily hand-animated film to ever get nominated for Best Picture) makes me hope for the best for this one. The idea of Watson and Gosling as the titular BEAUTY AND THE BEAST sounds pretty great to me, what about you guys?
