Channing Tatum Regrets Turning Down Guillermo del Toro’s Beauty & Beast

Years before Disney’s 2017 live-action Beauty and the Beast captivated audiences worldwide, director Guillermo del Toro was developing a different take on the classic story titled Beauty. Channing Tatum recently revealed his regret for declining the chance to portray the Beast in del Toro’s version, expressing disappointment over the project’s eventual cancellation. The original film was planned under Warner Bros. with a script by Andrew Davies and Emma Watson attached to star as Belle.

Del Toro, who confirmed his directorial role in 2012, stepped away from the director’s position by 2014 due to other commitments but remained a producer. The project stalled and never progressed, allowing Disney’s adaptation with Watson and Dan Stevens to dominate the market, ultimately grossing $1.2 billion globally. Tatum’s candid reflections, shared in a Vanity Fair interview, reveal the emotional weight of stepping back from a production he admired deeply.

The Circumstances Behind Tatum’s Decision to Decline the Role

Tatum explained that his decision was influenced by personal and professional challenges at the time of del Toro’s Beauty and the Beast development. Having just become a father and feeling overwhelmed by another demanding movie project, he doubted his capacity to commit fully, especially since the screenplay was incomplete. Tatum stated,

“One of the biggest mistakes of my career: Guillermo del Toro wanted to do Beauty and the Beast, his version of the Beast. And I’d just had a baby, I was on a movie that was absolutely killing me, and the script wasn’t totally there yet. I was just in a place in my head that I was like, ‘I don’t think I can do this right now.’ It was the biggest mistake, because I’m the biggest Guillermo fan ever. And I think Guillermo doing Beauty and the Beast would’ve been the sickest movie ever.”

—Channing Tatum, Actor

The actor stressed his admiration for del Toro’s work and lamented the lost potential of what the film could have been. He also acknowledged that del Toro’s busy schedule and multitude of projects contributed to the film’s indefinite delay. Tatum further reflected,

“He’s got a billion other things that he wants to do.”

—Channing Tatum, Actor

Emphasizing his enduring regret, Tatum admitted,

“I’ll probably never forgive myself on that one,”

and expressed hope for future collaboration opportunities, saying,

“I hope we get to work together one day.”

—Channing Tatum, Actor

The Impact of Del Toro’s Beauty and the Beast Not Reaching Production

Channing Tatum’s comments shed light on Guillermo del Toro’s halted Beauty and the Beast, confirming rumors that the film was close to being realized but ultimately fell through. His version of the tale was anticipated to offer a much darker and imaginative interpretation compared to Disney’s polished 2017 release. Tatum’s potential involvement underscores the strong talent lineup that Warner Bros. aimed to assemble, with Emma Watson already attached and del Toro directing.

The combination of del Toro’s distinctive storytelling, Watson’s star power, and Tatum’s presence as the Beast suggested the film could have gained critical and commercial prestige. For Tatum, this project represented not only an artistic challenge but also a rare chance for a defining role during his peak as a leading man. His regret demonstrates how pivotal decisions in Hollywood can significantly affect actors’ careers and the industry’s creative landscape.

Prospects for Future Collaborations Between Tatum and Del Toro

Although Disney’s version proved a commercial hit, earning over a billion dollars, the missed opportunity of del Toro’s project remains a source of frustration for Tatum. The director’s history of revisiting and successfully reinventing projects suggests there might still be room for collaboration between the two. Del Toro’s recent acclaimed works such as Pinocchio, Nightmare Alley, and Crimson Peak highlight his ability to create distinctive cinematic worlds, which Tatum admires.

With Tatum openly expressing his eagerness to work with del Toro, fans may anticipate future joint ventures, even if those projects do not revisit the Beauty and the Beast narrative. This possibility keeps alive the hope for innovative storytelling that blends the talents of both creator and actor in upcoming films.