Emma Watson has found a new leading man.
After weeks of speculation, the Beast to her Belle in a live-action adaptation of Disney’s Beauty and the Beast will be none other than Downton Abbey star Dan Stevens.
Both actors took to Twitter to comment on the happy news today, with Watson posting “Could not be more happy that this man will be Beast!!! Welcome aboard @thatdanstevens”, her co-star simply posted an image saying “Beast Mode”, a reference to Seattle Seahawks’ Marshawn Lynch.
Could not be more happy that this man will be Beast!!! Welcome aboard @thatdanstevens #beautyandthebeast pic.twitter.com/F1ghG3pvcU
— Emma Watson (@EmWatson) March 5, 2015
— Dan Stevens (@thatdanstevens) March 5, 2015
In other casting news related to the highly-anticipated film; The Hobbit‘s Luke Evans will play baddie Gaston. Speculation remains rife that Emma Thompson is being lined-up for the motherly role of Mrs. Potts.