‘Beauty and the Beast’: Frozen's Josh Gad Set to Be Play the Villain Gaston's Sidekick Lefou in Disney's Live-Action Adaptation of Classic Fairy Tale

Josh Gad, 34, best known for voicing Olaf in Frozen is in talks to play Gaston's buffoonish loyal sidekick Lefou in Walt Disney Pictures' 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 The Hollywood Reporter.

Luke Evans, 35, recently seen on the big-screen in The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies and Dracula Untold is already on board to play the villain Gaston, a character which was not part of the original story published in 1756. Gaston was first introduced by Disney in the 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. In the animated film, Gaston's sidekick Lefou was voiced by Jesse Corti.

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 signed on to play the Beast/Prince opposite Emma Watson's Belle.

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 Gad, 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. No release date has yet been announced.