Tom Hooper to take on Les Miserables

[kvz5]

And it's not like it's a main character, it's a supporting character. Most studios while hesitant are more open to casting unknowns in supporting rather than starring roles.

Yup. The movie has enough star power to take a gamble on an unknown. I'm glad they realized that.

 

[Octoberist]

I feel so happy for Samantha Barker - it's a Cinderella story and it warms my heart.

 

[Pink Ranger]

I misread this threa'ds title. Knowing fully there was Les Miserable film in production but I thought the title of this thread read:

Tobe Hooper to take on Les Miserables.

And let's just say that'd, that'd be a very different movie.

I'd pay good money to see both. t:

Honestly that Swift rumor might've originated from her camp to give her buzz or pressure them to give her the role but it backfired since the rumor was met with negativity rather than positivity. Publicists do that all the time to raise their client's profile or to give them leverage.

My theory is this, and I'm reluctant to voice it because I don't want to get on the Swift-bashing (Swift-boating?) bandwagon, as I don't really have an issue with her.

It was a studio/marketing move. This film already had star power up the wazoo, but they wanted to put Swift in there so general audiences in the Red States would see this movie. Otherwise it would just be (supposedly) dismissed as "New York stuff" that (supposedly) Ma and Pa Kettle and Baby Jayma, President of the Young Virgins Club would steadfastly avoid.

Yeah, I'm stereotyping, but we're talking about a musical where French criminals talk in Cockney accents, so let's not go there.

 

[narrows101]

Tweet from Hugh:

RealHughJackman Hugh Jackman
first day of rehearsal with colm wilkinson...what an honour...the original valjea. such a legend.

 

[danoyse]

I just saw that on Twitter too. So awesome!

 

[narrows101]

Rehearsals have started, and Hugh and Russell together are presenting one of the BAFTA awards on Sunday. In the US that airs on BBC America, 8 p.m. ET.

Eddie Redmayne is up for "Rising Star Award" - wonder if they are handing out that one.

 

[narrows101]

https://***********/#!/RealHughJackman/status/166993412275453952/photo/1

@RealHughJackman Hugh Jackman
what an honour...singing a new song with the composer, claude michel, at rehearsals for les mis! pic.***********/iXFsE1Qi

 

[danoyse]

Ah, so the new song is Jean Valjean's. I was hoping it would turn out that way.

The soundtrack will be my 5th Les Miz recording. I currently have the original London and Broadway cast recordings, the Complete Symphonic recording, and the 10th Anniversary concert.

I still wish they did a recording for the 25th Anniversary concert. I love that version.

 

[Pink Ranger]

Ah, so the new song is Jean Valjean's. I was hoping it would turn out that way.

The soundtrack will be my 5th Les Miz recording. I currently have the original London and Broadway cast recordings, the Complete Symphonic recording, and the 10th Anniversary concert.

I still wish they did a recording for the 25th Anniversary concert. I love that version.

Ever thought about acquiring the original French concept album (1980)? It's fun to hear the familiar songs sung in French.

 

[narrows101]

Lots of info about the new song from Mackintosh, including the title. This sounds great!

http://www.playbill.com/news/articl...d-Live-Singing-Cameron-Mackintosh-Reveals-All

One Song More! Les Miz Film Will Have New Song and Live Singing; Cameron Mackintosh Reveals All
By Kenneth Jones
February 8, 2012

Les Misérables producer Cameron Mackintosh confirmed that the in-production film version of the epic Victor Hugo-inspired musical will feature a new song for Jean Valjean, the hero played by Hugh Jackman.

The actor Tweeted on Feb. 7 that he was honored to be learning the new song with composer Claude-Michel Schönberg. When stage and screen star Jackman uses Twitter, fans listen.

"Well, he did warn us he was going to Tweet," Mackintosh told Playbill.com on Feb. 8. "He didn't hear the song until yesterday when he went through it with Claude-Michel."

Written by the stage hit's original songwriting team of Schönberg, Alain Boublil and lyricist Herbert Kretzmer, the new number is called "Suddenly," the producer revealed.

"It's a really lovely new song," Mackintosh said by telephone from London, where the film, directed by Oscar winner Tom Hooper, is in rehearsal before shooting starts in March. "It was something that Alain and Claude-Michel came up with, after a passage in the book, which beautifully explains what happens when [Valjean] takes Cosette from the inn and looks after her. Herbie's written a lovely lyric to it, and we're all delighted how it seems to fit into the film version.

"The whole thing has been written by Alain and Claude-Michel in the same way they've worked with Herbie on the original score — I think rather religiously. They've gone back to their working methods of 30 years ago!"

When asked if there might be an additional original song played over the closing credits, Mackintosh said with a laugh, "No, no. The one thing you don't have to worry about [with] Les Miz is there are enough tunes! I mean, we're going to have great fun compiling reprises — all of the songs — that we want to put over the credits, which I'm sure will be endless."
The producer confirmed the accuracy of reports that the vocals for the film would be sung live rather than dubbed. Most of the 1986 stage musical is sung-through, so dubbing would be a chore.

Mackintosh explained, "We're doing something which has not been done before on this scale. There is a huge amount of music and a huge amount of singing in Les Misérables; you can't get the performances except through the voice. The whole thing that we have to achieve with the movie is that we tell a story through music. It's a film story we're telling.
Therefore, we need to take the audience into that world.

"One of the things that impressed me about [director] Tom [Hooper] when he first showed his interest in being the director of the movie is that he both embraced the score and also wanted to create live sound, and get the excitement of the performance and the depth that you only get…by recording it live. Over the last four or five years, technology has moved so far that it is now something that is possible to try. I'm sure we're going to learn a lot on the way, but we're all up for that adventure."

Like the refreshed 25th anniversary U.K. production and current U.S. national tour of Les Miz, the film will be sung with an emphasis on of-the-moment naturalistic acting.

"Tom is going to take that approach in his own way with the movie," Mackintosh said. "The very fact that it is a movie — it has a degree of realism, which the stage doesn't require. We have to make the audience absolutely believe in the way that we're telling the story. Live performance — with live thoughts that happen to be sung — is very much part of what we need to do to [credibly tell the story]. We have a fantastic cast; many of them are drawn either from the musical theatre or can sing in a way that music is second nature to the way that they act. That's why we're all very excited about the adventure that we're entering."

The live singing is also practical. He added, "You don't have any option with a musical like this because if you don't create the performances within the music, and use the music to tell the story through the lyrics, there isn't anything else. It's not great acres of book to establish the drama, so it is through the music and lyrics. And, Herbie Kretzmer's lyrics are marvelous, and they can be spoken in many different ways."

 

[Raiden]

I'm still not too sure about this live recording of the songs yet, because my concern is that background noises and other distractions could potentially ruin a good song. However, I'm willing to give them a shot and see how it would turn out, and I hope it will be unprecedented and spectacular.

 

[Pink Ranger]

double edit

 

[Pink Ranger]

I'm still not too sure about this live recording of the songs yet, because my concern is that background noises and other distractions could potentially ruin a good song. However, I'm willing to give them a shot and see how it would turn out, and I hope it will be unprecedented and spectacular.

I suspect there will be a separate recording for "album" purposes, like The Producers (below). Hooper wants to make sure that danoyse buys both the DVD and the itunes download.

 

[Raiden]

Taylor Swift and Eddie Redmayne almost dated

If this tabloid news is true, it means that Swift actually tried to get the part of Eponine but could not get it in the end. The article also said that Samantha Barks dated a Jonas brother? That's something I would never have imagined.

 

[danoyse]

I suspect there will be a separate recording for "album" purposes, like The Producers (below). Hooper wants to make sure that danoyse buys both the DVD and the itunes download.

And I will. I have at least 5 different programs because I could not resist the urge to get a new one every time I saw the show.

And I should get the 1980 French recording. I used to see it in stores all the time, but back then I always shied away from it because I didn't understand French.

Although I still don't really understand France (but I have been to Paris!), but now I think the album would be cool to have.

 

[danoyse]

In fact, when I did go to Paris, my inner-Les Mis geek had to take picture of this street sign:

 

[Pink Ranger]

And I will. I have at least 5 different programs because I could not resist the urge to get a new one every time I saw the show.

And I should get the 1980 French recording. I used to see it in stores all the time, but back then I always shied away from it because I didn't understand French.

Although I still don't really understand France (but I have been to Paris!), but now I think the album would be cool to have.

It's available on iTunes, but it's like 20$mad! It's a 32-track album though, so maybe that's why.

 

[narrows101]

Taylor Swift and Eddie Redmayne almost dated

If this tabloid news is true, it means that Swift actually tried to get the part of Eponine but could not get it in the end. The article also said that Samantha Barks dated a Jonas brother? That's something I would never have imagined.

Apparently from reports, Samantha dated Nick Jonas. Taylor was seen at Eddie's "Richard II" one night and everyone assumed that meant she got the job. I guess it meant something else LOL...

Meanwhile, Mackintosh confirms Carter, Cohen must not be officially signed yet.

http://www.playbill.com/news/articl...ter-Will-Be-Madame-Thnardier-in-Les-Miz-Movie

Mistress of the House: Helena Bonham Carter Will Be Madame Thénardier in Les Miz Movie
By Kenneth Jones
February 9, 2012

Helena Bonham Carter, the actress who created a frisky Mrs. Lovett in the film musical "Sweeney Todd," will play craven Madame Thénardier in the movie version of the international-hit pop musical Les Misérables, producer Cameron Mackintosh told Playbill.com.

As for Madame T's husband and partner in crime, Thénardier, who moves from innkeeper to bandit over the expanse of the Victor Hugo tale, Mackintosh was keeping mum on Feb. 8. Filming under director Tom Hooper ("The King's Speech") begins in London in March.

"You can print the most reliable rumor," Mackintosh said with a laugh, skirting an official announcement of the rumored-in-negotiations Sacha Baron Cohen ("Borat"). "I don't think they've been announced yet, so I'm being slightly cagey, but I know who they are! They're a wonderful couple. I just can't tell you if everything is signed! Actually, I can tell you that certainly Madame Thénardier is Helena Bonham Carter. I can tell you that. Which isn't shabby. We have the most amazing cast, now we have to make a bloody good film. I have every hope we will."

Read about the new song written for the film. Hugh Jackman stars as heroic Jean Valjean. Read the recent Playbill story about the Les Miz film cast.

A two-time Oscar nominee, Helena Bonham Carter was Academy Award-nominated for her work in "The King's Speech" (Supporting Role Oscar nominee) and "The Wings of the Dove" (Leading Role Oscar nominee), and appeared in the films "Fight Club," "Howards End," "A Room With a View," "Alice in Wonderland," "Big Fish," "Hamlet" and many others.

 

[Majik1387]

Hopefully he won't be signed. :fingers crossed:

 

[Pink Ranger]

SBC isn't bad, but I still would like to see Mick Jagger as M. Thenardier.

 

[Godzilla2000]

All I have to say is finally!!! It took them long enough to make a movie of the musical! Love the casting of Hugh Jackman as Jean Valjean. It's good that they cast people with some actual singing chops. I have to say my favorite character is Cosette. I hope they add the song from the London cast that they'd removed for the Broadway production.

 

[flickchick85]

I'd actually be pretty ok with SBC as Thénardier. I mean, I'd prefer Geoffrey Rush, but for some reason I could see SBC working in that role.

 

[narrows101]

At the BAFTA awards, Hooper confirms SBC and mentions the December release date (if it's pushed into 2013 it may be delayed a year! December is prime Oscar-bait season).

http://www.heyuguys.co.uk/2012/02/13/bafta-red-carpet-interview-tom-hooper

And obviously back in the saddle this year with Les Mis.

‘Yeah, I start shooting in five weeks time in Pinewood Studios with Hugh Jackman, Russel Crowe, Anne Hathaway, Sascha Baron-Cohen, Helena Bonham-Carter, Amanda Seyfried and Eddie Redmayne. It’s an outrageously wonderful cast.’

Anyone you’ve not cast in it?

‘Unfortunately Victor Hugo didn’t write enough parts to get every wonderful actor, but I’ve got a few’

At the start of this year it was being touted as a 2012 release, but there have been rumours that it will slip to 2013. Is there any truth in that?

‘We’re still looking to make the December date. Because it’s very tight we’re all being careful about it, but we’re still on the December date’.

Jackman and Crowe presented Best Film together at the BAFTAs - see their comedy act which some say was the best part of the whole show. Also notice Hugh's beard which I presume he's growing for at least the prison scenes.

http://www.dailymotion.com/video/xolw9q_bafta-2012-hugh-jackman_shortfilms

 

[Pink Ranger]

Hugh's beard looks more like Valjean's Montreuil-sur-Mer look; kind of the refined continental gentleman who would own a small town. The imprisoned Valjean would be Hugh in full Castaway mode; they might use wigs and extensions for that.

 

[narrows101]

Hugh's beard looks more like Valjean's Montreuil-sur-Mer look; kind of the refined continental gentleman who would own a small town. The imprisoned Valjean would be Hugh in full Castaway mode; they might use wigs and extensions for that.

He has a whole five more weeks to grow it out more since Hooper said on the red carpet that's when filming starts, and his facial hair seems to grow very quickly.