EXCLUSIVE: Newcomer George Blagden joins Tom Hoopers Les Miserables as Grantaire
by Linda Ge
Casting is quickly firming up on
Tom Hoopers adaptation of international blockbuster musical
Les Miserables, but while some of the major roles are still being negotiated, a strong supporting character has been finalized. Little known stage and screen actor
George Blagden has been cast as student revolutionary Grantaire, the actors reps confirmed to us today.
Blagden will share the screen with the likes of
Hugh Jackman, Anne Hathaway, Russell Crowe and
Amanda Seyfried.
Blagden will share most of his screentime with
Eddie Redmayne and
Aaron Tveit, whose Marius and Enjolras are close friends and fellow revolutionaries alongside Grantaire, who Valjean encounters in the second act of the story. It was also
revealed recently that Les Mis original London cast members
Colm Wilkinson (Valjean) and
Frances Ruffelle (Eponine) will have small roles in the film. Wilkinson will play a Bishop Valjean meets in the beginning of his journey who sets him on the right path with his kindness, and Ruffelle will play a fabulous ****e during one of Fantines ensemble musical numbers, Lovely Ladies. Meanwhile,
Taylor Swift, Sacha Baron Cohen and
Helena Bonham Carter still remain in negotiations for the roles of Eponine, Thenardier and Mme Thenardier, respectively. Those deals better come together fast, with rehearsals beginning this week and filming set for March, all towards a release date of December 7, 2012.
Blagden is a neophyte to the big screen, with his first credits set for release this year, in Clash of the Titans sequel
Wrath of the Titans with Sam Worthington and Liam Neeson, and indie
The Philosophers, starring some of the hottest rising talent including Rhys Wakefield, Sophie Lowe, Harry Potters Bonnie Wright and W.E.s James DArcy. Les Miserabls should be a nice breakout for Blagden, a tenor who has also appeared on stage in
Kiss Me Kate,
The Blue Room and more.
BIG!!!!!
