Dan Stevens is about to swap ‘Downton Abbey’ for an enchanted castle, as it seems he's set to play the Beast in Disney’s upcoming ‘Beauty and the Beast’ remake.
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Emma Watson has already been confirmed for the leading role of Belle, and while Ryan Gosling was initially rumoured for the role of the Beast, it’s now been confirmed that Dan will be taking on the role in the live-action adaptation of the 1991 cartoon.
Dan Stevens
On Thursday, Emma shared her joy at the news that Dan would be joining her in the film, tweeting that she "could not be more happy" about the casting decision.
He isn’t the only star linked with a role in ‘Beauty and the Beast’, though, with ‘The Hobbit’ actor Luke Evans rumoured to be playing Gaston, the show’s villain, who takes a fancy to Belle and is relentless in his pursuit of her.
Variety have reported that Luke is “in negotiations” to play Gaston in the film, which will begin filming later this year.
Luke Evans
Luke added feul to the fire, by retweeing Variety's news story on his official Twitter page.
Disney’s original ‘Beauty and the Beast’ became the first animated film to be nominated for an Academy Award for Best Motion Picture upon its release in 1991.
Composer Alan Menken also won the Oscar for Best Score, while the song ‘Beauty and the Beast’, performed in the film by Angela Lansbury, won Best Original Song.
'Beauty and the Beast'
The film was later adapted for the stage, and ran for over a decade on Broadway, until it officially closed in 2007. The West End version of the musical won the Best New Musical prize at the Olivier awards, after it officially opened in 1997.
Emma’s casting in a live-action version of ‘Beauty and the Beast’, comes after former ‘Downton Abbey’ actress Lily James’s leading part in the forthcoming remake of the Disney classic, ‘Cinderella’, scheduled for release later this year.
Watch the 'Cinderella' trailer below...
