Back in 1987 CBS introduced an updated version of the classic fairy tale Beauty and the Beast that focused on two worlds: the “World Above” where savvy New York assistant District attorney Catherine Chandler lived and the “World Below” where mythic, man-beast Vincent roamed freely in a secret Utopian community consisting of social outcasts living in a subterranean sanctuary.
After being attacked and left for dead, Catherine is found by Vincent and taken to his underground home to heal. This is where they form a strong empathetic bond with Vincent becoming her guardian once she returns to her home in the “World Above”.
Unlike the original fairy tale, Vincent does not transform from the beast into a beauty after gaining Catherine’s love rather his inner beauty remains the focus. It is actually Catherine’s life that is transformed because of her relationship with him.
On September 15, sources confirmed with the folks over at TV Line that The CW is developing a reboot of this CBS classic. There aren’t many details on this new version except that it will be modernized, the love story will be CW-friendly and will have a procedural twist.
While I cannot say that I agree with the procedural twist (don’t we have enough of those already?), I can accept the rest. But since there are no specific details, I have been working on my own idea and my own dream casting for the project.
So, here is what I came up:
Miracle Laurie
Catherine Chandler – Miracle Laurie (Dollhouse) will play the new version of Catherine who is one of the top attorneys at her father’s prestigious law firm – Chandler, Holmes and Crosby – until she is brutally attacked while riding the subway. Months later, after being rescued by Vincent and treated by Father in the “World Below,” she receives surgery to correct the scars she sustained. She eventually leaves her father’s firm, opening her own practice where she represents the less fortunate who were brutalized the same as she was.
Kevin Durand
Vincent – Kevin Durand (Dark Angel) will play Vincent, the man-beast who happens upon Catherine in the subway after she is attacked. He takes her to his subterranean world where Father treats her and they quickly form a bond. He spent nearly his entire life with Father underground, only visiting the “World Above” under the cover of darkness until his fateful meeting with Catherine.
Sam Anderson
Father – Sam Anderson (Lost) is Father, a former doctor and college professor who sought asylum in the underground after the unsolved murder of his wife and daughter over 25 years earlier. He found Vincent hiding underground when he was about 10 years old and raised him as his own son, educating him and making him the “man” he is now.
Alan Dale
Charles Chandler – Alan Dale (Lost) is Charles, father of Catherine and legendary New York attorney who is the founding member of Chandler and Associates, which is now Chandler, Holmes and Crosby, the most prestigious law firm in all of New York City. He is devastated by the attack on his daughter and is crushed when she leaves the firm. He pays for her medical care in a bid to win her back to his side but turns his back on her when she opens her own firm.
Bianca Lawson
Josephine “Jo” Maxwell – Bianca Lawson (Pretty Little Liars) is Jo, Catherine’s best friend and associate at Catherine’s new firm. They have been friends since grade school and is the closest thing to a sister that Catherine has ever known. She is also the only one Catherine has trusted with her secret about Vincent.
Erica Hubbard
Evangeline “Evie” Shaw – Erica Hubbard (Lincoln Heights) is Evie, Catherine’s neighbor who is also a landscape photographer who spends more time on the road than at home. She and Catherine have become good friends, but Evie knows there is more to Catherine than meets the eye.
Devon Sawa
Jake McCallister – Devon Sawa (Nikita) is Jake, a member of the underground society who grew up alongside Vincent; in fact, they were almost like brothers until a tragic accident took place causing the society to exile Jake. He finds solace with other underground dwellers not part of the society Father created and ends up becoming Vincent’s nemesis.
Terrell Tilford
Detective Frank Sterling – Terrell Tilford (The Protector) is the lead detective who was in charge of investigating the attack on Catherine and has continued to have a watchful eye on her because of all the mysterious occurrences that seem to circle her life.
Malese Jow
Maggie Magraw – Malese Jow (The Vampire Diaries) is Maggie, an up-and-coming writer for an online tabloid website who has dreams of being a top-notch reporter. She is slowly starting to put the pieces together of Catherine’s secret life after witnessing Vincent rescuing her from an altercation. Maggie isn’t really sure what she saw, but she isn’t going to stop until she finds out the truth, using that story as her way to climb the ladder.
I am sure the writers of the actual pilot – Jennifer Levin (Without a Trace) and Sherri Cooper (Brothers & Sisters) – have their own ideas and that the casting process for the potential pilot will lead the powers that be in very different directions from my own; but this is my dream team.
What are your thoughts on the Beauty and the Beast remake? Please share.
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