He’s no monster, Gaston! Actor Luke Evans says playing the self-centered and super pompous Gaston in Disney’s upcoming, live-action version of Beauty and the Beast was one of his favorite roles of all time.
The British actor, 37, stopped by Good Morning America on Wednesday, February 15, to discuss the vain villain, and what it was like to star in such an iconic title.
“It’s one of those jobs [where] you just love going into work to play. I didn’t want it to finish,” Evans revealed. “He’s a total idiot. But he’s so much fun. He’s the lovable rogue of the village… and you see this man become a complete monster throughout the film.”
ABC Breaking News | Latest News Videos
Evans, who also recently starred in the film adaptation of The Girl on the Train, said his musical theater background primed him to portray Gaston. “I played Roger in Rent and Chris in Miss Saigon,” he noted to the GMA co-hosts. “I was even in Avenue Q. I was one of the puppets. Singing was my first love, and I wanted to bring it back, and it was nice to be able to merge the film career with the musical theater career. And this was it. This was the role.”
He certainly felt the pressure—but had fun with it. “You’re bringing an animated character that people have known for so long to life,” he shared. “It’s an honor, but it’s so much fun. I couldn’t go far enough with the character. It was just brilliant.”
Beauty and the Beast premieres on March 17. Watch the new clip above!
