Luke Evans to Join Disney’s Live-Action ‘Beauty and the Beast’ as Gaston

Two months ago, we reported on the first major casting for Disney’s upcoming live-action adaptation of Beauty and the Beast: that of Emma Watson as Belle. Now we bring you another report on another actor in talks to portray a very familiar Disney villain.

Variety has recently reported that Luke Evans (Fast 6, The Hobbit, Dracula Untold) is currently in firm negotiations to join the film as Gaston, an egotistic hunter and town hero who tries to win Belle’s heart to no avail. With only two other projects on his plate, it’s a pretty good bet that he’s locked for the role.

Also, just in case it’s not clear at this point in time: yes, the film will be a musical.

Back in October, director Bill Condon told Entertainment Weekly that the film will feature the animated film’s original songs by Alan Menken and Howard Ashman, in addition to new music by the duo:

“Technology, we hope, has finally caught up to that treatment of the story, so I think we’re all kind of excited to bring that brilliant, amazing score and beautiful story into three dimensions,” Condon said.

Directed by Condon from a screenplay by author and filmmaker Stephen Chbosky, production on the film will begin later this year on an as-of-yet unknown release date.

What do you think? Do you approve of the casting choice? Does it make you look forward to the film at all?

Edited by: Kajsa Rain Forden