'This film is one of inclusiveness': Josh Gad champions upcoming Beauty And The Beast remake which sees him play gay Disney character

He plays an iconic Disney character who develops feelings for leading man Gaston in the upcoming Beauty And The Beast remake.

And Josh Gad, who plays LeFou, has continued to champion the 'inclusive' values of the film in an interview with People.

'What I would say is that this film is one of inclusiveness,' the 36-year-old recently told the website. 'It's one that has something to offer everyone.' 

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'This film is one of inclusiveness': Josh Gad, who plays LeFou, has continued to champion the 'inclusive' film in an interview with People (pictured at the film's premiere in Los Angeles earlier this month)

'This film is one of inclusiveness': Josh Gad, who plays LeFou, has continued to champion the 'inclusive' film in an interview with People (pictured at the film's premiere in Los Angeles earlier this month)

Josh plays the bumbling side-kick of antagonist Gaston, played by Luke Evans.  

Describing LeFou's pal, Gaston, he said: 'You have a character in Gaston who uses his charm offensive to whip other people into a frenzy to go and attack somebody they’ve never met. 

'Somebody that’s different. Somebody that only represents a danger because he says that he represents a danger.' 

The news of LeFou's sexuality has sparked some backlash, with a drive-in theater in Alabama refusing to the show the new film on account of the character.

Speaking up: Josh Gad says portraying Disney’s first ever openly gay character is 'incredible'

Speaking up: Josh Gad says portraying Disney’s first ever openly gay character is 'incredible'

It's not the first time Josh has spoken about his role as well.

During the film's premiere earlier this month, AP reported Luke said the plot alteration that allows LeFou - to become Disney's first ever LGBTQ character is 'subtle' but 'effective'.

'[Director] Bill Condon did an amazing job of giving us an opportunity to create a version of Le Fou that isn’t like the original, that expands on what the original did, but that makes him more human and makes him a wonderfully complex character to some extent.

Large shoes to fill: The 36-year-old takes on the role of LeFou in the live-action remake of Beauty and the Beast

Large shoes to fill: The 36-year-old takes on the role of LeFou in the live-action remake of Beauty and the Beast

Exact details of the plot alteration have not been revealed so as to avoid spoiling the movie, but director Bill Condon recently described one scene as offering a 'nice, exclusively gay moment'.

He told Attitude Magazine: 'LeFou is somebody who on one day wants to be Gaston and on another day wants to kiss Gaston.

'He's confused about what he wants. It's somebody who's just realizing that he has these feelings. And Josh makes something really subtle and delicious out of it. 

'And that's what has its payoff at the end, which I don't want to give away. But it is a nice, exclusively gay moment in a Disney movie.

In the new version, Emma Watson will play leading lady Belle, voiced in 1991 by Paige O'Hara, while Dan Stevens will be the Beast, succeeding Robby Benson. 

The film enjoyed its world premiere in London last Thursday and will open to a wide release in both America and Britain on March 17.

Filling in the details: He has said the plot alteration that allows the character - who is the bumbling side-kick of antagonist Gaston, played by Luke Evans - to become Disney's first ever LGBTQ character is 'subtle' but 'effective'

Filling in the details: He has said the plot alteration that allows the character - who is the bumbling side-kick of antagonist Gaston, played by Luke Evans - to become Disney's first ever LGBTQ character is 'subtle' but 'effective'

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