Jon Jon Briones joins all-star cast of ‘Beauty and the Beast’ TV special

Jon Jon Briones joins an all-star international cast in ABC's animated and live-action blended special, Beauty and the Beast: A 30th Celebration, which airs on 15 December and streams on Disney+ on 16 December.

The Filipino-American actor will appear as Maurice, the inventor father of lead character Belle, to be portrayed by another Fil-Am artist, H.E.R.

Josh Groban is the Beast, Joshua Henry is Gaston, and Rita Moreno is the narrator.

H.E.R is the first African-American Filipino to star as a Disney lead star.

The cast includes Rizwan Manji as Lefou, Leo Abelo Perry as Teacup chip, David Alan Grier as the clock's cogsworth, Shania Twain as Mrs. Potts, and Martin Short as the candlestick Lumiere.

Crazy Rich Asians director, Jon M. Chu, along with Hamish Hamilton and H.E.R are the special's executive producers.

The live production of the French fairy tale will have never-before-seen musical performances, new costumes and set designs inspired by the 1991 animated film.