Disney developing live-action Gaston film with new actor

Disney ↗3.00% is developing a live-action film centered on Gaston from Beauty and the Beast, with Dave Callaham writing the script and Michelle Rejwan producing, though no director is yet attached to the project.deadline
The film will feature a new actor and take a “swashbuckling” approach to the villain character, separate from the previously canceled Disney+ series that would have starred Luke Evans reprising his role from the 2017 live-action remake.deadline
The project follows Disney’s pattern of developing villain-focused films like Maleficent and Cruella, coming after the 2017 Beauty and the Beast grossed $1.263 billion worldwide.insidethemagic

Disney Developing Live-Action Gaston Film Following Recent Franchise Successes

Disney is in early development on a new live-action film centered on Gaston, the muscular antagonist from “Beauty and the Beast,” multiple outlets reported Saturday.deadline

Dave Callaham, whose credits include “Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings” and “Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse,” is writing the script, with Michelle Rejwan, who produced “Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker” and “Andor,” attached as producer. Kate Herron and Briony Redman previously wrote an earlier draft of the screenplay.broadwayworld

The project will feature a new actor in a “swashbuckling” take on the character, sources told Deadline. No director is currently attached to the film, which remains in its preliminary stages.imdb

Fresh Take on Familiar Character

The development marks Disney’s second attempt at a Gaston-focused project. Luke Evans, who portrayed the character in the studio’s 2017 live-action “Beauty and the Beast” remake, is not expected to return. That film grossed $1.263 billion worldwide, becoming the second-highest-grossing live-action Disney remake to date.variety

Disney previously developed a prequel series for Disney+ that would have reunited Evans with Josh Gad, who played Gaston’s sidekick LeFou. The series, tentatively titled “Little Town,” was put on hold in February 2022 ahead of a planned summer shoot. Evans confirmed in August 2024 that the project was “sadly…not on the table”.insidethemagic

Mixed Results for Disney Remakes

The announcement comes as Disney navigates contrasting fortunes with its live-action remake strategy. The studio’s “Lilo & Stitch” remake became the first Hollywood film to cross $1 billion globally in 2025, earning $1.038 billion. However, “Snow White,” released in March 2025, earned only $194.7 million worldwide against a $410 million combined production and marketing budget, resulting in an estimated $145 million loss.variety

Following Villain Spinoff Trend

The Gaston film follows Disney’s pattern of developing sympathetic origin stories for its animated villains. “Maleficent,” released in 2014, grossed $758 million worldwide, while 2021’s “Cruella” earned $233 million during the pandemic. Industry observers note that the studio has faced criticism for humanizing villains in ways that some argue diminish their original characterizations.insidethemagic

Disney is also developing live-action remakes of “Tangled,” “The Hunchback of Notre Dame,” “Robin Hood,” and “Hercules”. Plot details for the Gaston project remain undisclosed, though sources indicate the studio is “high on the idea”.gizmodo