‘Beauty and the Beast’ season 3 premiere date revealed (with season 4 renewal)

“Beauty and the Beast” is actually feeling a little bit more these days like a different Disney story altogether: Cinderella. After all, how else do you explain the fact that the series is finding a way to have even more life on The CW?

This underdog series just received an official season 3 premiere date on Thursday, May 21 at 8:00 p.m. Eastern time, meaning that it will basically be taping the place of “The Vampire Diaries” on the schedule. Not only that, but it has been confirmed already for a fourth season, which is going to be premiering at some point in 2016. Surprised? So are we. Happy, but still surprised.

So why is this show, despite lower ratings, getting such an early renewal? It really comes down to a pair of factors.

1. International success – There are some other shows on the network that appeal more to American audiences, but don’t sell nearly as well overseas. Meanwhile, this one features such themes and storytelling that it translates well into other markets. It is one of the better shows the network and CBS Studios have internationally.

2. The studio – The CW likes to have some CBS products on the air, but when you look at their schedule right now, the majority of them are produced by Warner Bros. TV. “Reign” is another CBS TV program, while they also have a stake in “Jane the Virgin.”

You can also say that this series could also benefit from airing in the summer. There is not nearly the same amount of pressure on it to be a smash hit, and it can exist without competition.

At this point, we almost expect “Beauty and the Beast” to last long enough for it to make the 88 episodes most series need to get to syndication.

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