From Downton to Hollywood: Dan Stevens to star with Ben Stiller in Night at the Museum 3

The actor will take up the role of Lancelot in the film franchise

Dan Stevens will take up the role of Lancelot in Night at the Museum 3 (Getty Images)

Dan Stevens will return to our screens as the villain in Night at the Museum 3, after being dramatically killed off in Downton Abbey last Christmas.

Stevens, who made his break playing Matthew Crawley in the hit ITV drama, has landed the “pivotal” role of Sir Lancelot starring alongside Ben Stiller, who returns in the lead as museum guard Larry Dale.

Robin Williams will also be reappearing as Teddy Roosevelt, with Shawn Levy back in the director’s chair for the multi-million dollar grossing franchise. Plot details are, of course, being kept hushed.

Since leaving Downton for the bright lights of Hollywood, Stevens has acted with Benedict Cumberbatch in Wikileaks box-office flop The Fifth Estate and with Liam Neeson in the as-yet-unreleased A Walk Among the Tombstones.

The first Night at the Museum, released in 2006, saw Stiller’s character battle against museum exhibits that come alive after sunset.

Production is set to begin in February next year, with Night at the Museum 3 expected to open in time for Christmas next year on 25 December 2014.