Casting Beauty and the Beast

My brother Logan recently blogged about his "dream cast" for the animated favorite, Swan Princess. And he did a really, really awesome job. So I thought it would be a lot of fun if we both came up with a Beauty and the Beast cast and then compare notes. I clicked on his blog and saw that he had posted his, but I didn't read it yet so I can write mine more objectively. So here goes...

Belle- Kate Beckinsale. Perhaps a little obvious, but Kate Beckinsale rocks, and I think she could play all the dynamics of Belle very genuinely. Belle has to have a dreamer side, a stern side, a compassionate side, a tough chick side, a brush-off-Gaston side, a look really good in a ball gown side, etc, etc, and KB can do it all. Keira Knightly would have done a wonderful job too, but my cast tended to lean a bit older.

Maurice- WIlliam H. Macy. I briefly considered Robin Williams, but thought it would be difficult arguing his sanity. William H. Macy is the perfect father figure in my story, and could give just the right amount of eccentricity without being too out there.

Gaston- Hugh Jackman. He can totally carry off the over the top attitude of Gaston, plus he's ripped, and if it were a musical version he could sing too. HJ was the first person I mentally cast, and I would love to be able to see him as Gaston.

Lafou- Giovanni Ribisi. Despite the in-charge role he had in Avatar, I think GR would play an ideal sidekick. A little snivelly, ready to continually boost Hugh Jackman's ego, and devious enough to go along with any dastardly plan his bff comes up with. As an added bonus, he's a full 7 inches shorter than HJ.

Lumiere- Hugh Laurie. I struggled with this one. First, I wanted Paul Bettany, and then I wanted Robert Downey Jr, both of which would have played a delightful and convincing Lumiere. But Hugh Laurie won out because of his superior chemistry with my Cogsworth, who is...

Cogsworth- Stephen Fry. British. Proper. And goes back with Hugh Laurie for so many decades, their relationship would be totally believable and their on screen banter would be priceless.

Mrs Potts- Emma Thompson. I can't believe how long I struggled with Mrs Potts simply due to the little flirtyness that happens with Maurice at the very end of the movie. I needed someone motherly, orderly, and that would fit well with William H. Macy as the other parental figure. Emma Thompson was my answer.

Beast- Wentworth Miller. Yes, that guy from Prison Break. Tell me he can't do bitter and angsty, while looking great with KB at the end of the movie.

Added bonus! Tim Curry as the creepy guy from the asylum. For obvious reasons.

So there you have it. I spent a lot of time worrying about the chemistry and all the different relationships between the characters, and now I realize now that Logan makes it look easy. But I feel pretty good about my choices. Now I get to go read his blog.