Disney's live-action adaptation of "Beauty and the Beast" will have Gaston singing a slightly different song in his solo number. Composer Alan Menken reveals that they have added lyrics written by Howard Ashman before he died. Yet the people in the production are not about to release any of the film's songs just yet.
Howard Ashman worked with Alan Menken in the 1991 animated "Beauty and the Beast." For the live-action version, they are using these never-before heard lyrics for Gaston's solo, which will be performed by Luke Evans.
"We had a treasure trove of lyrics that Howard had written that we did not put in the [animated] movie," reveals Alan Menken via Entertainment Weekly. He cited that it was a bit "risqué" to use this at that time, but it is different now with the "Beauty and the Beast" live-action.
"So, yes, you're going to hear some unheard Howard Ashman lyrics," he said, citing that Gaston's updated song would lend freshness to the new "Beauty and the Beast." Those familiar with the music of the original film will find the new lyrics to be "really, really special," Menken notes.
#BeOurGuest 3.17.17. pic.twitter.com/v6lALZFfr5
— Beauty and the Beast (@beourguest) November 10, 2016
Some never-before heard lyrics will also be featured in the music at the end of the "Beauty and the Beast" live-action. Director Bill Condon is quite excited that they have found these to present to the audience, old and new.
But the reason why none of the new songs are being released along with the teasers just yet is because the production people intend to keep this until moviegoers actually watch "Beauty and the Beast" in March 2017. The new songs will help in telling the story of the live-action movie. "The new songs had to do with the ways we were expanding and filling out the backstories of Belle and the Beast," Bill Condon told People.
"Beauty and the Beast" live-action is led by Emma Watson and Dan Stevens. Watch the newest trailer compared side by side with the animated film in the video below.
