Rita Ora Joins 'Beauty and the Beast' Prequel Series At Disney+

Singer/Actress Rita Ora has just been announced as the latest addition to Disney’s still untitled Beauty and the Beast prequel series.

According to Deadline, she’ll play a fugitive with surprising abilities who is harboring a secret that could impact the entire kingdom forever.

While she isn’t necessarily known for her acting, this is not her first role. Ora previously co-starred in the Fifty Shades of Grey films and had a brief role in one of the Fast and the Furious films too.

She joins the previously announced Luke Evans, Josh Gad, Briana Middleton, Fra Fee, and Jelani Alladin.

Taking place several years before 2016’s live action adaptation of Beauty and the Beast, the series will revolve around Gaston, Lefou, and Tilly (Middleton). After a shocking revelation from Tilly’s past arises, the trio will set off on an adventure that will reunite them with old friends, new rivals, all while revealing many mysteries and secrets their kingdom has been harboring for years.

Edward Kitsis and Adam Horowitz, who previously created and oversaw the wildly popular ABC series Once Upon A Time, will serve as show-runners of this series alongside Josh Gad. They will also contribute as writers.

Kitsis, Horowitz, and Gad will all also executively produce the series with the legendary Alan Menken. Unsurprisingly, Menken will also provide the music for the series. Liesl Tommy (RESPECT) will also executively produce, but most importantly she’ll direct the series – as we previously reported – too.

Production was originally slated to begin in early 2022; however, all signs indicate that the project is eyeing a Spring start. It’s unclear when the series is expected to drop on Disney+.

SOURCE: Deadline