Shania Twain has been added to the cast of ABC’s Beauty and the Beast: A 30th Celebration. Twain will play Mrs. Potts, and is among six new cast additions recently announced: Martin Short will play Lumière, David Alan Grier is Cogsworth, Rizwan Manji will be Gaston’s loyal sidekick, LeFou; and Jon Jon Briones will play Belle’s loving father, Maurice.
Previously announced casting includes: H.E.R. playing the role of Belle; Josh Groban will play the Beast; Joshua Henry has been tapped to play Gaston; and EGOT winner Rita Moreno will serve as the night’s narrator. Jon M. Chu will executive produce the special and Hamish Hamilton is set to direct.
The two-hour reimagining of Beauty and the Beast will be taped in front of a live audience at Disney Studios in Burbank, CA and will air Thursday, December 15th from 8-10 pm EST/PT on ABC, and on Disney+ the next day.
This year marks the 30th anniversary of when Disney Animation’s Beauty and the Beast became the first animated film to be nominated for Best Picture at the Academy Awards.
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