Beauty and the Beast 30th Anniversary Special Will Pay Tribute to Angela Lansbury

During an interview with Variety to promote "Beauty and the Beast: A 30th Celebration", producer Chu confirmed that the special will pay tribute to Lansbury. “We definitely give him a nod,” he says. "How could we not pay homage?" He also teases a few other surprises that won't be revealed until showtime.

But in addition to paying homage to the story of the film itself and the actors who originally brought it to life, he shared that the production will include cultural ties to new cast members H.E.R. and Jon Jon Briones. The award-winning singer-songwriter and veteran actor both have roots that go back to the Philippines and H.E.R. will go down in history as the first black Filipina to play the Disney princess. To honor this legacy, costume designer Marina Toybina and her team (who created over 400 costumes for this special) incorporated ancient Filipino script into the design of Belle's apron from her beloved village look, which we can see in the opening number. Chu shared his excitement about spotlighting his performers' backgrounds in this way with Variety:

"She's amazing. You couldn't find a more amazing representative for Belle, someone who worships Disney ethos but also does her own thing. That she represents that and that [the Filipino American actor ] Jon Jon Briones plays it dad - it's so exciting."

Much like Chu's description of Belle and H.E.R., it seems like this whole special will really be its own thing, while paying homage to what's come before in a heartfelt way. If you want to experience the show for yourself, "Beauty and the Beast: A 30th Celebration" premieres on ABC on December 15, 2022, then premieres on Disney+ the following day.