‘Beauty and the Beast’: Luke Evans Is Set to Play the Villain Gaston, Dan Stevens as the Prince/Beast in Disney's Live-Action Adaptation of the Classic Fairy Tale

Luke Evans, 35, recently seen on the big-screen in The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies and Dracula Untold is in negotiations to play the villain Gaston in Disney's live-action remake of the fairy tale Beauty and the Beast, which will have Bill Condon as director and Evan Spiliotopoulos and Steve Chbosky as scriptwriters, according to Variety.

The character Gaston, who was not part of the original story published in 1756, was first introduced in Disney's 1991 animated Beauty and the Beast film. Voiced by Richard White, he was depicted as the village's local hero figure who also happens to be Belle's rejected suitor. Gaston in the Disney version of the fairy tale instigates and leads the attack on Beast's castle.

Dan Stevens, 32, best known for his roles in the TV series Downton Abbey and in last year's cult action movie The Guest, is also in negotiations to play the Beast/Prince, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

For the live-action musical adaptation of the Disney version of the Beauty and the Beast story, Emma Watson was the first to be cast, taking the role of Belle. In fact, according to the National Ledger, Watson herself revealed she got the part and that she had already started singing lessons in preparation. On her Facebook page, the 24-year-old star wrote: "I'm finally able to tell you... that I will be playing Belle in Disney's new live-action Beauty and the Beast! It was such a big part of my growing up, it almost feels surreal that I'll get to dance to 'Be Our Guest' and sing 'Something There.' My six year old self is on the ceiling - heart bursting. Time to start some singing lessons. I can't wait for you to see it. Emma xx."

Aside from Evans and Stevens, Emma Thompson, 55, is also reportedly in talks with Disney to play the part of Mrs. Potts, another character introduced in the 1991 animated Beauty and the Beast film. Mrs. Potts is one of the castle's servants at the time when the sorceress put a spell on everyone. Just as the prince was turned into the Beast, Mrs. Potts was transformed into a teapot. She becomes Belle's friend and confidant.

Production of the live-action musical is expected to begin later in the year.