H.E.R. has been cast to play a Disney princess.
Variety reports that the singer-songwriter has been cast as Belle in ABC’s upcoming hybrid special celebrating Beauty and the Beast‘s 30th anniversary.
The anniversary special will include a screening of the film along with live never-before-seen musical performances, new sets and new costumes.
As Variety reports, the performances, which will be performed in front of a live studio audience, will “pay homage while also adding to the iconic story for viewers at home.”
The special will air later this year on Dec. 15 at 8/7c and will stream the next day on Disney+.
Jon M. Chu, who directed Crazy Rich Asians and In The Heights will executive produce with Hamish Hamilton directing.
Chu wrote about executive producing the special on Twitter, writing, “I watched B+B 3 times opening weekend when it came out in 1991…I bought all the toys, trading cards, I kept the newspaper ads, & would draw the characters in the margins of my papers. So to pay tribute to those storytellers who brought it to life 30+ years ago is an honor.”
I watched B+B 3 times opening weekend when it came out in 1991… I bought all the toys, trading cards, I kept the newspaper ads, &would draw the characters in the margins of my papers. So to pay tribute to those storytellers who brought it to life 30+ years ago is an honor ❤️ https://t.co/YejbBpIwmu
— Jon M. Chu (@jonmchu) July 5, 2022
With H.E.R. taking on the main role, Disney has added to its count of diversified princesses.
Disney first started redefining their princesses before Hollywood had language to describe the phenomenon when Brandy was cast as Cinderella in 1997. Recently, Halle Bailey has been cast as Ariel in the upcoming live-action version of The Little Mermaid and Yara Shahidi has been cast as Tinkerbell in the upcoming live-action version of Peter Pan.
