Luke Evans is not just having a moment; he IS the moment. He’s currently starring as Dr. Frank-N-Furter in Broadway’s “Rocky Horror Picture Show” and has half a dozen film and TV projects coming up. 

His next film to hit theaters is expected to be “The Get Out,” an adaptation of Thomas Perry’s novel “Strip.” It stars Russell Crowe as an aging nightclub owner trying to retire but is forced back into the game after Evans’ character, an undercover federal agent, tries to entrap him. The film, which also stars Nina Dobrev, Aaron Paul and Teresa Palmer, is set to hit theaters June 26. 

It’s the latest in a long career of movie and TV adaptations for Evans, who has made a name for himself in high-production genre films (“Beauty and the Beast,” “Dracula Untold” and two “Hobbit” films) as well as moodier thriller/mysteries (“The Girl on the Train” and “The Alienist”). 

Let’s take a look at some of Evans’ most memorable adaptation roles. 

‘Nine Perfect Strangers’ Season 1 (2021)

Evans plays Lars Lee, one of the nine guests in the first season of “Nine Perfect Strangers.” The series, which aired on Hulu in 2021, was an adaptation of Liane Moriarty’s novel of the same name. 

The strangers gather for a 10-day retreat at a wellness resort in California to work on their individual issues only to discover that they’re being deceived by the resort’s host, played by Nicole Kidman. The host, Masha, gives the oblivious guests microdoses of LSD as an experimental form of treatment. Lars has revelations about his childhood and relationship with his partner, who wants to get married and start a family. 

A second season of the series debuted in 2025 with Kidman and an all-new cast. 

‘The Alienist’

Evans plays John Moore, a newspaper illustrator in late-19th century New York City in the TNT series “The Alienist.” He stars opposite Daniel Bruhl who plays Laszlo, a psychiatrist (also known as an alienist at the time) and Dakota Fanning, who plays Sara, a young society woman who works as an assistant at the New York Police Department. Together the three work to solve crimes often overlooked by traditional law enforcement. 

“The Alienist” ran for two seasons, winning a production design award at the Art Directors Guild Awards and a visual effects award at the Primetime Emmys. 

‘Beauty and the Beast’ (2017)

Evans showed off his singing and comedy chops in the 2017 live-action remake of Disney’s “Beauty and the Beast.” He portrayed Gaston, the vain, over-the-top macho man trying to win Belle’s (Emma Watson) heart. Usually paired opposite sidekick LeFou (Josh Gad), Evans’ Gaston has some of the best songs in the film and plays bigoted—if gorgeous—villain set on destroying the Beast (Dan Stevens). 

Like its animated predecessor, the film had a blockbuster cast that also included Kevin Kline, Ewan McGregor, Stanley Tucci, Audra McDonald, Gugu Mbatha-Raw, Ian McKellen and Emma Thompson. The film picked up a bunch of awards and nominations during award season that year. Evans won a Teen Choice Award for Choice Movie Villain and a nod for Choice Hissy Fit. He was also nominated for an MTV Movie & TV Award alongside Gad for Best Duo. 

‘The Girl on the Train’ (2016)

Evans had a more sinister role in the 2016 adaptation of Paula Hawkins’ thriller “The Girl on the Train.” He played Scott Hipwell, whose wife, Megan (Haley Bennett), goes missing after Rachel (Emily Blunt) spots her kissing another man. The aggressive and violent Scott is initially under suspicion for his wife’s disappearance and becomes threatening toward Rachel. To complicate matters, Scott and Megan happen to live next door to Rachel’s ex-husband, Tom (Justin Theroux), and his new wife Anna (Rebecca Ferguson). 

The film, which also starred Allison Janney, Edgar Ramirez and Lisa Kudrow, won the People’s Choice Award for Favorite Thriller Movie. 

‘The Hobbit’ 

Evans had a major role in each of the last two “Hobbit” movies directed by Peter Jackson. He played Bard the Bowman, a man who lives in Lake-town with his children and fights to protect his people from the threatening dragon Smaug. His heroic efforts in the story by J.R.R. Tolkien earn him a major promotion—to king of Dale. Evans played the role in both “The Desolation of Smaug” in 2013 and “The Battle of the Five Armies” in 2014. 

While the “Hobbit” movies weren’t quite as critically acclaimed as their predecessors—the “Lord of the Rings” trilogy—they’re nevertheless an important stop in the Middle Earth adventures. The films also starred Martin Freeman, Ian McKellen (again!), Richard Armitage, Orlando Bloom, Evangeline Lilly, Benedict Cumberbatch, Lee Pace and Hugo Weaving. 

‘Dracula Untold’

Evans played a different kind of Dracula in 2014’s “Dracula Untold.” Loosely inspired by the book by Bram Stoker, the film delved deeper into the origin story of the famed vampire. Vlad Dracula is the prince of a small part of the Ottoman Empire in the 15th century. As a warrior, he comes to be known as Vlad the Impaler. 

Uneasy with his violent reputation, he seeks a peaceful life with his wife and son. But when the sultan demands his son be sacrificed as a tribute, Vlad seeks the help of a powerful vampire. In an attempt to save his son and wife, Vlad transforms into a vampire to fight off his enemies. “Dracula Untold” also starred Dominic Cooper, Charles Dance and Sarah Gadon. 

 About the writer

Danielle Haynes is the co-founder and co-editor of Booked & Screened, covering book-to-screen adaptations, film and TV development.