While Dan Stevens still is best known as Matthew Reginald Crawley on Downton Abbey, the actor is working to be recognized beyond his signature character and he may very well do so with his next role. Stevens' is set to star opposite Emma Watson as The Beast in Disney's live-action re-imagining of Beauty and the Beast.

Just as The Hollywood Reporter claimed, Stevens joins Watson and Luke Evans, who also just recently was cast as the villain Gaston in Bill Condon's (Dreamgirls) upcoming film. After the news was released, Stevens himself confirmed (seemingly) the news through his Twitter when he tweeted the words "Beast Mode" prominently in black and white.

With Stevens' inclusion, this makes all the primary characters in this new Hollywood production played by British actors. Watson was cast back in January. While Ryan Gosling was reportedly offered the part last month, it appears he turned down the role. Also reported to turn down the part was recent Oscar-winner Eddie Redmayne, according to The Wrap.

What's most interesting about this production is how Condon chooses to realize The Beast. One could imagine he could go in either the make-up route or simply have it formed through motion-capture/CG. There's been no word from the director yet on which way he plans to go, or even if he decided yet.

Production is set to begin later this year, according to Variety, but details on the film are limited otherwise. There's been no word on a release date or tone, including whether or not it's a musical. Watson did suggest she would sing in the movie in a Facebook post, which confirms the notion to some, but Disney has not verify this to be the case.

David Hoberman and Todd Lieberman produce the new Beauty and the Beast with a screenplay by Evan Spiliotopoulo and Steve Chbosky (The Perks of Being a Wallflower). It joins a line-up of recent live-action fairy tale re-imaginings Disney has produced of late, including last year's box office hit Maleficent and next week's Cinderella. The latter of which has received good marks thus far from critics (and, as someone who has seen the film can say, for good reason). They also have live-action versions of The Jungle Book and Pete's Dragon in the works at the moment as well.

Stevens recently was seen in The Guest, A Walk Among the Tombstones and Night at the Museum: Secret of the Tomb last year, and soon stars in The Cobbler, Criminal Activities and The Ticket.

Image courtesy of Dan Stevens

Image courtesy of Walter McBride/INFphoto.com