Hot Rumor: Ryan Gosling to Star in 'Beauty and the Beast'?
Industry scuttlebutt can get a little imaginative, but this rumor is too tasty to pass up. The Tracking Board, a Hollywood insider site, posted that Disney has offered Ryan Gosling the role of Beast in their live-action version of "Beauty and the Beast." It was just revealed Emma Watson has signed on for the role of Belle, and Bill Condon has been attached to direct since last summer, so it looks like pre-production is getting into gear.
If there's any merit to the story, it will be interesting to see Gosling return to his more Disney-friendly roots. The baby goose has been doing much edgier fare for the past few years, from roles in Nicolas Winding Refn's "Drive" and "Only God Forgives" to his directorial debut "Lost River." We know he has leading man charm oozing out of his ears, and yeah, he can definitely sing and dance, so he would be a great fit for the role. Plus, while we totally respect his indie edge, well, it would be great to see him get swoony on the big screen once again. We'll be keeping our eyes and ears open for more on this one!