Josh Gad firmly entrenched himself in Disney history thanks to his voicing (and singing as) loveable living snowman Olaf in Frozen. He’ll be back for more frosty frolicking in the sequel, but appears ready to tackle a live-action challenge for the studio. He’s set to play a bumbling sidekick in the new version of **Beauty And The Beast{
Emma Watson and Dan Stevens are aboard as the titular pair, starring in the story of a young, literary-minded young woman (Watson) who agrees to take her father’s place imprisoned in a castle, where she’s romanced by a cursed prince turned into a beast (Stevens). Our heroine ultimately chooses the hairy creature over her jealous suitor, Gaston (Luke Evans). He, in turn, deals with the rejection somewhat awkwardly, gathering a mob of townspeople to hunt down and try to kill the creature. Breaking up what had so far been an all-British party, Gad will be Le Fou, Gaston’s stalwart, buffoonish sidekick.
Bill Condon is directing this one, which appears to be hewing closer towards the model provided by Cinderella, where the script sticks more to the original story and doesn’t try to colour around the edges, as with Maleficent. The cameras should be rolling later this year.
Gad, who has also reprised Olaf for short spin-off Frozen Fever (due in front of Cinderella on March 27), will next be seen in Adam Sandler action comedy Pixels, out August 12.