Tom Hooper to take on Les Miserables

[terry78]

So far Hugh Jackman is Jean Valjean and it looks like Anne Hathaway may be Fantine.


http://collider.com/anne-hathaway-les-miserables/112131/

 

[kvz5]

Russell Crowe is in talks apparently for Javert.

 

[Ultra Lantern]

This looks pretty good.I'm looking forward to this movie,when it comes out.

 

[danoyse]

It's official now: Hugh Jackman as Jean Valjean and Russell Crowe will be Inspector Javert:

http://broadwayworld.com/article/Ru...-Hugh-Jackman-in-LES-MISERABLES-Film-20110908

They're also reporting that Helena Bonham Carter and possibly Geoffrey Rush will play the Thenardiers, as well as Anne Hathaway as Fantine.

This is my all-time favorite musical (I've seen it 9 times), and this cast sounds amazing.

 

[Pink Ranger]

Good cast. I was actually hoping for some stunt casting with M. Thenardier (Mick Jagger would have been cool) but HBC and Rush are excellent choices. I'm not so sure about Russell Crowe (in terms of singing ability, a rock voice is not suitable for Javert) but I will eagerly anticipate being proven wrong.

I wonder if they are going to give into the Glee fan mafia and cast Leah Michele as you-know-who. She'd do a good job, doubtedlessly, but this is becoming a Henry Cavill/Christian Bale situation.

 

[flickchick85]

Good cast. I was actually hoping for some stunt casting with M. Thenardier (Mick Jagger would have been cool) but HBC and Rush are excellent choices. I'm not so sure about Russell Crowe (in terms of singing ability, a rock voice is not suitable for Javert) but I will eagerly anticipate being proven wrong.

I wonder if they are going to give into the Glee fan mafia and cast Leah Michele as you-know-who. She'd do a good job, doubtedlessly, but this is becoming a Henry Cavill/Christian Bale situation.

I mean, if they can find a "bigger name" that can rock it better than Lea Michele, then by all means they should go for it. But that's a tall order. She's the only memorable former Eponine that's the appropriate age to play her on screen. And she's a better singer even than most popular "singers" these days, never mind actors. It's not really a Glee-fan thing. Glee just made her a recognizable enough name to cast her.

If they didn't care about recognizability, though, I certainly wouldn't complain if they cast Nancy Sullivan. She was great. Lea just seems like the most natural choice in terms of talent and name recognition.

I too am a little worried about Crowe, though. I hope he lets them give him voice lessons, lol.

 

[Pink Ranger]

I mean, if they can find a "bigger name" that can rock it better than Lea Michele, then by all means they should go for it. But that's a tall order. She's the only memorable former Eponine that's the appropriate age to play her on screen.

Hey, what made you assume I was referring to Eponine? I could have been thinking about the role of "miscellaneous prostitute #3" or one of the redshirts that dies in the barricades.

 

[CaptainCanada]

I wonder if they are going to give into the Glee fan mafia and cast Leah Michele as you-know-who. She'd do a good job, doubtedlessly, but this is becoming a Henry Cavill/Christian Bale situation.

I actually think it's much less a case of whether they want to cast her, but whether they could get her; unless the producers were willing to basically write Rachel out of the show for a stretch, there's no way in hell that Lea could do the movie and the show at the same time. They accommodated her schedule to film a small part in New Year's Eve, but that didn't entail missing any episodes.

 

[danoyse]

Good cast. I was actually hoping for some stunt casting with M. Thenardier (Mick Jagger would have been cool) but HBC and Rush are excellent choices. I'm not so sure about Russell Crowe (in terms of singing ability, a rock voice is not suitable for Javert) but I will eagerly anticipate being proven wrong.

I wonder if they are going to give into the Glee fan mafia and cast Leah Michele as you-know-who. She'd do a good job, doubtedlessly, but this is becoming a Henry Cavill/Christian Bale situation.

I kept hearing it might be Lucy Hale (I think that's her name)...she's from that show Pretty Little Liars. I've never heard of her before she was rumored for Les Miz, but apparently she's a very good singer.

 

[flickchick85]

Hey, what made you assume I was referring to Eponine? I could have been thinking about the role of "miscellaneous prostitute #3" or one of the redshirts that dies in the barricades.

Lol, I didn't even notice that you wrote "you-know-who." My mind just automatically replaced it with "Eponine." t:

 

[danoyse]

Hey, what made you assume I was referring to Eponine? I could have been thinking about the role of "miscellaneous prostitute #3" or one of the redshirts that dies in the barricades.

Actually, in the stage version, Eponine and Cosette play prostitutes in the Lovely Ladies scene, and Fantine is one of the students on the barricade, so you could still get your wish if they stick to that.

 

[Willi Berg]

Likely more casting decisions we'll be made soon and if that Broadway source stays accurate Hayden Panettiere, Miranda Cosgrove, Lucy Hale, or Emma Watson could be announced as Eponine and Cosette.

http://www.firstshowing.net/2011/official-russell-crowe-helena-bomham-carter-in-les-miserables/

I personally wouldn't want Lea Michelle. Lucy Hale seems interesting. I don't think Eponine needs to be a big name esp. if it does recall Glee and it could give an up and comer an opportunity. There are quite a few videos of Lucy Hale on youtube since she was a contestant on American Juniors a few years ago. She seems the most interesting out of those mentioned.

 

[danoyse]

I like that so far they seem to be casting people who haven't already played these roles on stage. Brings something new to all of it. (unless, of course, they do wind up casting Lea Michelle, but they don't seem to be going in that direction).

 

[narrows101]

Those names for Eponine and Cosette have been rumored for a bit (sorry I haven't visited this thread sooner).

According to this story, Lucy Hale has a movie out where she sings:

The classic Cinderella story gets a modern musical twist in A Cinderella Story: Once Upon a Song, available on DVD and digital download on September 6th. Katie (Lucy Hale) lives with her cruel stepmother (Missi Pyle), wicked stepsister (Megan Park) and trouble-making little stepbrother (Matthew Lintz), but dreams of a better life as a recording artist. When Katie falls for Luke (Freddie Stroma), she tries to get his attention with her singing, but her stepsister takes credit and Luke falls for the wrong girl, forcing Katie to stand up for herself and her dreams.

I think she may be hinting at something at the end of this story:​

Having wanted to do a musical, did this satisfy that desire or do you want to do more now?

HALE: I would love to do more. This was definitely a step in the right direction. This was fun and had great songs. I learned a lot, but I’d love to dabble more into singing and musicals, and maybe even Broadway. Who knows? We’ll see.​

Do you have any idea what you’d like to do next? Are there types of roles that you’d really like to try?​

​

HALE: For me, I feel like there’s really nothing off limits. Well, I can think of a few things that would be off limits. But, I want to do something unexpected that’s maybe a little darker. At the same time, I’d love to do a really good romantic movie, like The Notebook, where it’s a great love story. I don’t know. Right now, it’s pretty much Pretty Little Liars, 24/7 until December. And then, I have a couple months off and would love to do a film. There are a couple things that hopefully will work out.​

​

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http://collider.com/lucy-hale-a-cinderella-story-pretty-little-liars-interview/113186/

In other stories it's been reported that Hugh is the one that's been championing Anne H. as Fantine.

 

[danoyse]

I know they're planning to add regular dialogue and not have it completely sung-through (which is smart, I don't think it would work as well in a film), but I'm hoping this stays. How intense is this going to be with Hugh Jackman and Russell Crowe in the leads?

[YT]8grQ1NVCi0I[/YT]

 

[narrows101]

Oh they HAVE to keep that! Here's another version, from the 10th anniversary concert. Valjean is Colm Wilkinson, who starred on Broadway. This one has words to it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2WdoAnlQ30U

 

[narrows101]

Check out the interview process Crowe had to go through - Hugh is doing talk show promotions for Real Steel starting this week when he appears on Leno on Friday, and I bet this will come up.

http://www.heraldsun.com.au/enterta...s-next-big-thing/story-e6frf96x-1226139986265

Russell Crowe's next big thing

HE has played a Roman gladiator, a Nobel laureate, a heavyweight boxing champion and Robin Hood.

Now Academy Award winner Russell Crowe is getting ready to tackle another weighty role, in the film adaptation of Les Miserables.

The 47-year-old had to go through a three-month process to secure the role of Inspector Javert.

Aussie Hugh Jackman will line up alongside Crowe in the film, in the lead role of Jean Valjean.

"I'm really looking forward to doing the movie and it will be great working with Hugh Jackman," Crowe said.

Les Miserables - produced by Cameron Mackintosh - opened in London in 1985 and is one of the most successful musicals of all time.

Shooting for the movie will start in Britain next February, with release scheduled for December.

Crowe auditioned in front of the original writers of the musical, Claude-Michel Schonberg and Alain Boublil.

"The whole process was building towards this final two-hour singing audition in New York. There were film executives there, Cameron Mackintosh, musical director Stephen Brooker and the film's director, Tom Hooper."

Before donning the famous hat of Insp Javert, Crowe will be busy with other projects.

His latest album - Crowe/Doyle Songbook Vol III - came out last month and went to No.6 in the Canadian download charts. The release of the album coincided with sold-out concerts in Newfoundland.

 

[narrows101]

Hugh tweets:

RealHughJackman Hugh Jackman

spent last 4 days with tom hooper and the les mis gang...could not be more pumped!!​

His one-man show on Broadway starts on Oct. 25 and goes through Jan. 1 and then he said he will be in rehearsals for Les Mis in January and February with filming to start in March. Can't wait for the official word on who the cast is. And here's another tweet dated Oct. 14 - hopefully this will be online or leaked as to what was said:​

BBCFrontRow

Theatre producer Cameron Mackintosh tells ML about the Les Mis film which will star Hugh Jackman and Russell Crowe​

 

[Eddie Dean]

At first I thought I read "Tobe Hooper to take on Les Miserables". How awesome would that be?

 

[brett66]

Are they adapting the musical or this more of the same?

 

[danoyse]

It's an adaptation of the musical.

 

[Superhero 101]

i am really siked to see this Russel Crowe and Hugh Jackman are my favorite actors along with Christian Bale now if it was only possible to get all three of them together in one film...

 

[flickchick85]

i am really siked to see this Russel Crowe and Hugh Jackman are my favorite actors along with Christian Bale now if it was only possible to get all three of them together in one film...

Ha, Christian Bale doing another musical would totally get my a** in a seat, considering Newsies is what made me a Balehead in the first place.

That said, this movie doesn't need the help getting my money. I'm already there opening weekend for this.

 

[kvz5]

i am really siked to see this Russel Crowe and Hugh Jackman are my favorite actors along with Christian Bale now if it was only possible to get all three of them together in one film...

That would rock. But hey at least we got The Prestige and 3:10 To Yuma.

Ha, Christian Bale doing another musical would totally get my a** in a seat, considering Newsies is what made me a Balehead in the first place.

Bale was so endearingly off key in Newsies. I know the guy swore he'll never do another musical again but I think he's toying with the idea of doing a music related movie so maybe we'll hear him sing again. He was being courted for A Star Is Born (which I hope he declines even if it's Clint Eastwood) and the movie he's doing with Malick is definitely music inspired.

Anyway, it's official:

http://www.deadline.com/2011/10/anne-hathaway-joins-hugh-jackman-russell-crowe-in-les-miserables/

Anne will play Fantine.

 

[danoyse]

I love Newsies, and Christian Bale's adorable off-keyness. And now it looks like that's going to be a Broadway show, finally!

Anne Hathaway will be terrific as Fantine.