First Look: Dan Stevens As Charles Dickens In 'The Man Who Invented Christmas'

Dan Stevens broke out in old timey fare, playing Matthew Crawley on “Downton Abbey.” Ever since he left the hit show, he’s tried a variety of genres, finding considerable success, but now he’s back Merry Olde England, but now playing famous author Charles Dickens.

The Man Who Invented Christmas” will detail how the author wrote the classic “A Christmas Carol,” and Stevens was charmed by the material.

“It was a really spooky, intriguing, funny piece,” the actor told EW. “I just thought it was a really fresh take on that whole world. Particularly in England, Dickens is placed on a pedestal. But the guy was, at turns, quite playful and childish, and, at turns, quite dark and not a very pleasant man.”

“The Man Who Invented Christmas” will, appropriately, open this holiday season.THE MAN WHO INVENTED CHRISTMAS (2017) Dan Stevens as Charles Dickens