'Downton Abbey' star Dan Stevens to join the cast of the upcoming 'Beauty and the Beast'

Los Angeles: Dan Stevens, the breakout actor of 'Downton Abbey' and action movie 'The Guest', is in negotiations to play the Beast/Prince in Disney's live-action retelling of 'Beauty and the Beast'.

Stevens, 32, will join Emma Watson, who is playing Belle, the "Beauty" in the title, while Luke Evans is in talks to play the vain villain Gaston, said the Hollywood Reporter.

Bill Condon is directing the film while David Hoberman and Todd Lieberman are producing.