“Beauty and the Beast” actor Dan Stevens is in negotiations to star in Gareth Evans’ new period revenge thriller “Apostle.”

Evans is writing and directing the film. XYZ Films, Severn Screen and Evans’ One More One Productions are producing. XYZ will handle international sales at this week’s AFM market in Santa Monica.

The story follows a man who travels to a remote island and attempts to rescue his sister after she’s kidnapped by a religious cult. The group demands a ransom for the sister’s return, undermining the man’s resolve to rescue her.

The film is aiming to start production in March 2017.

Stevens is heading into 2017 on-board two highly anticipated TV and film projects. He is set to star in FX’s drama “Legion,” which is based on the Marvel comic book and exec produced by “Fargo” creator Noah Hawley. He will also lead Disney’s live-action adaptation of “Beauty and the Beast” where he will the titular Beast character aka Prince Adam opposite Emma Watson’s Belle. He was most recently seen in the Toronto Film Festival film “Colossal.”

Stevens is repped by WME and Julian Belfrage Associates.