Tom Hooper to take on Les Miserables

[narrows101]

Great report - sounds like Deb was there too! I'm going in two weeks.

 

[danoyse]

Great report - sounds like Deb was there too! I'm going in two weeks.

Was she? I thought he said she wasn't there during the show. (he made some joke and said something like 'she's not here, go ahead and laugh')...I think when he was telling the story about how she didn't want him to audition for Wolverine and it's apparently the only time she's ever been wrong (I love that story).

 

[Clu]

my hype train is like the back to the future 3 train when the red log blew.

cant wait for this movie, should be great.

 

[narrows101]

Was she? I thought he said she wasn't there during the show. (he made some joke and said something like 'she's not here, go ahead and laugh')...I think when he was telling the story about how she didn't want him to audition for Wolverine and it's apparently the only time she's ever been wrong (I love that story).

Oh I assumed she was there when you mentioned her in your report and the song. Saw on the Broadway board that Michael Reidel was there too.

 

[Pink Ranger]

In the Toronto show, Hugh's whole family was there, his two kids and all. It was actually his daughter's birthday, so he had the whole audience since Happy Birthday to her. t:

 

[danoyse]

Oh I assumed she was there when you mentioned her in your report and the song. Saw on the Broadway board that Michael Reidel was there too.

Nah, he just dedicated "The Way You Look Tonight" to her, which was so sweet. There were a bunch of clips of them from "Corelli" playing the screen during the song (as well as the rest of his movies - loved seeing The Fountain up there). He explained to the audience what TV show that was, and a whole bunch of Aussies in the audience (who'd made their presence known early in the show, Hugh yelled "Security!!") cheered...Hugh stopped them and pointed out that only about 7 people ever watched that show.

In the Toronto show, Hugh's whole family was there, his two kids and all. It was actually his daughter's birthday, so we had the whole audience since Happy Birthday to her. t:

Awwww! I loved that photo he showed of him and Oscar when they were filming Australia. That version of "Somewhere Over the Rainbow" blew me away. That was just beautiful.

 

[narrows101]

The last link is Hugh and Anne singing at the 2009 Oscars when Hugh hosted.

http://blogs.indiewire.com/thompson...ables_adds_redmayne_to_jackman_crowe_hathawa/

CASTING WATCH: Hooper’s Les Miserables Adds Redmayne to All Star Cast of Jackman, Crowe, Hathaway

Tom Hooper’s The King’s Speech follow-up, the screen adaptation of the global hit musical Les Miserables, just added Eddie Redmayne (My Week With Marilyn, The Good Shepherd) to its all-star cast. As Marius, Redmayne will join Hugh Jackman (Jean Valjean), Russell Crowe (Inspector Javert) and Anna Hathaway (Fantine).

This eclectic mix of talent could be volatile. While Jackman is a delight to work with, both Hooper and Crowe have reps for being tough and demanding.

The musical is aiming for Oscar season 2013 with a December 2012 release date (with good reason: The King’s Speech dominated the 2011 Oscars). Bille August last put the period musical on celluloid in 1998 with Liam Neeson and Claire Danes. This edition of the Victor Hugo classic was written by William Nicholson, with music by Claude-Michel Schonberg and Lain Boubli. Working Title’s Tim Bevan, Eric Fellner and Debra Hayward are producing.

Wonder what Jackman and Hathaway look like singing together? You already know.

 

[narrows101]

It was crazy! Of course we were up in the mezzanine, so we couldn't see any of them...but it didn't matter. He was referencing them all night, and we heard them yelling back a few times.

He brought a guy up from the audience when he was singing "Fever", and since the guy had done a local production of Oklahoma! he suggested that they bring Florence Henderson (who was in the original production) up to do a whole new version. Then Hugh and the guy from the audience sang "The Farmer and the Cowman" and Hugh left to go sit in that guy's seat and left him up there still singing the song.

He started Act 2 as Peter Allen (I've missed him!!) and made a reference to the Oscar he won for 'The Best That You Can Do' and then started teasingly asking Angela Lansbury if she'd ever won an Oscar. And we heard this resounding "No! Not yet!" from Angela, at which the audience went nuts and Hugh cracked the hell up. Angela Lansbury is too awesome.

He pointed out Richard Marx during Act 2, and warned him not to throw his knickers on stage. Richard yelled back "Be lucky it's not the pants!"

I didn't even know about Candice Bergen until I read it online a few minutes.

He didn't sing anything from Les Miz...but the show was so good I barely noticed. He did mention he was doing it, and I think the woman in front us didn't know about it, because she said 'OH MY GOD!" out loud and started flipping out, which was hysterical.

He was so amazing...that had to be one of the best versions of "Somewhere Over the Rainbow" I've ever heard. He performed it with didgeridoo players and Aboriginal singers, and it was beautiful!

He also did this incredible medley from these old movie musicals (and tap danced!). And he did this medley that he did at the Tonys a few years ago:

[YT]Gao6va-rop4[/YT]

That was awesome live. He also did a rap version of The Music Man.

And his "Soliloquy" from Carousel was incredible! Maybe if Les Miz is a hit they can finally make that movie too. The song he did for his wife was so sweet too!

There were a ton of Wolverine jokes too. He said the show got to happen now because the new Wolverine movie ("Wolverine 16" he called it) was delayed again, and showed a clip from the movie and folllowed it with one of his more flamboyant photos from The Boy From Oz and explayed how much that scared movie executives.

Wolverine even made it into the pre-show announcement regarding cell phones: "Remember, he is Wolverine. He knows where you are, and he will find you."

It was great, I want to see it again!

He did that Music Man thing when he was on the Tonight Show with Jay Leno in September.

Hugh was on Access Hollywood yesterday and at the beginning of this clip (I think there are three clips in all on various subjects) he talks about Les Mis for a bit and how he was in London recently for it and what he did there. Obviously Billy Bush has never seen Les Mis because Russell Crowe is not going to be in tights!

http://www.accesshollywood.com/acce...-fever-in-the-jackman-family_videotab_1365853
http://www.eonline.com/news/the_awful_truth/hollywoods_hottest_body_parts_whos_got/272983

 

[danoyse]

God, Billy Bush is an idiot.

 

[narrows101]

Les Mis producer Cameron Mackintosh was at Hugh's one-man show last night:
​

JasonModica Jason Modica
@BroadwaySpotted Sir Cameron Mackintosh in the house at@HughOnBroadway! #royalty​

 

[Pink Ranger]

God, Billy Bush is an idiot.

He's just continuing the family business.

 

[Clu]

im pretty sure billy bush thinks theater is ballet.

 

[danoyse]

He's just continuing the family business.

Good point.

 

[Raiden]

I already have the original Broadway CD of Les Miserables, and I think I'll probably get this movie soundtrack as well when it comes out. If Chicago can win BP at Academy Award, maybe this film will have a chance, too.

 

[narrows101]

I already have the original Broadway CD of Les Miserables, and I think I'll probably get this movie soundtrack as well when it comes out. If Chicago can win BP at Academy Award, maybe this film will have a chance, too.

I have that on my IPod and have all the songs memorized. I saw the show for the first time last year at the Papermill Playhouse in NJ since there were rumors that a movie musical was going to be made, and whenever I read "possible movie musical" I always think "Hugh HAS to be in this one!!!" I can't believe he hasn't been in one yet considering all the stage musicals he's done and the big Broadway star that he is (BTW - his show's official opening in Thursday and I'm going for the first time on Sunday). I knew nothing about the musical when I went last year (didn't realize it was so long LOL), but now I have every song memorized and can't wait to see what they do with it on the big screen. I wonder if they will have some sort of press conference like they just did for "Bond" once casting is complete and rehearsals begin.

 

[danoyse]

I fell for Les Miz when I first heard the music during a car ride in 1989. I got the Broadway cast album cassette tape and listened to it so many times I actually broke it because it wore out. I got 2nd row orchestra seats to see it on Broadway using all of my babysitting money from that summer (I was 15 at the time). Back then, orchestra seats to a Broadway show were $50.

I've seen the show 9 times: eight times on Broadway and once in London. One of those shows was on a school field trip. I wasn't even in that class, but the teacher knew I liked the show and offered me one of the extra tickets.

I have the original Broadway and London cast albums, as well as the complete symphonic recording (which is 3 discs long and has the entire show), and the 10th anniversary concert recording (which I also have on DVD). I wish they'd release a CD of the 25th Anniversary show, but I do have that on blu-ray.

I also have a program from the Broadway production which had this ad:

Spoiler

So...yeah, I've been waiting for a movie version for a long time.

I still can't believe that they're actually finally making the movie...and that Hugh Jackman is in it! That's just too cool.

 

[lime]

Can someone tell me more about this movie? From what I understand it is a Musical, but what is the story?

 

[flickchick85]

Can someone tell me more about this movie? From what I understand it is a Musical, but what is the story?

It spans a couple decades in 19th century France, following an ex-con in his path to redemption, the residents of a town in which he becomes a prominent citizen, and the police inspector who relentlessly pursues him over the years. It has plenty of commentary on French politics, law, social issues, religion, etc, and all culminates in the June Rebellion of 1832.

Great report Hugh's show danoyse! Sounds like it was amazing!

 

[narrows101]

It spans a couple decades in 19th century France, following an ex-con in his path to redemption, the residents of a town in which he becomes a prominent citizen, and the police inspector who relentlessly pursues him over the years. It has plenty of commentary on French politics, law, social issues, religion, etc, and all culminates in the June Rebellion of 1832.

Great report Hugh's show danoyse! Sounds like it was amazing!

Danoyse can add more, but there's also a love triangle involved with Marius (young revoluntionary), Cosette (illegitimate child of Fantine, a factory worker who became a prostitute so she could send money to innkeepers the Thenardiers - they are Cosette's caretakers who treat her like a slave, plus they are thieves - Jean Valjean promises Fantine on her deathbed that he will care for Cosette so he "buys" her from the Thenardiers), and Eponine, daughter of the Thenardiers who joins the revolution and realizes she can't have Marius because he loves Cosette. Those are two of the iconic songs in the musical.

Fantine sings the song made famous by Susan Boyle, "I Dreamed a Dream", which basically details her life and how she got the way she was, and Eponine sings the song that Anne Hathaway parodied on the past Oscar telecast, "On My Own", how she realizes she can't have Marius because he loves another.

Meanwhile, Jessica Biel reveals that she auditioned for Fantine:

On the last time she felt terrified: “I felt terrified when I was auditioning for Les Miserables, the movie that Tom Hooper is doing. I was terrified to sing in front of him. I auditioned for Fantine, and I sang “I Dreamed a Dream.” I didn’t get it. I would have loved it.”

http://socialitelife.com/jessica-biel-almost-starred-in-the-notebook-wont-spill-about-justin-11-2011

 

[Doctor Jones]

I really can't wait to see this. What a lovely cast (Crowe chasing after Jackman with the gorgeous Hathaway involved? Sold) and I love the idea of this being a musical. I still haven't seen King's Speech though. But I can't believe I'm actually looking forward to a musical.

 

[narrows101]

May I suggest listening to some of the songs on the Les Mis YouTube channel - there are also tons on individual songs on YouTube.

http://www.youtube.com/user/lesmiserableslondon?blend=3&ob=5

 

[narrows101]

For those interested in Hugh singing and dancing, here's a montage from his Broadway show:

[YT]fWPC0t1RZbA[/YT]

 

[Raiden]

I fell for Les Miz when I first heard the music during a car ride in 1989. I got the Broadway cast album cassette tape and listened to it so many times I actually broke it because it wore out. I got 2nd row orchestra seats to see it on Broadway using all of my babysitting money from that summer (I was 15 at the time). Back then, orchestra seats to a Broadway show were $50.

I've seen the show 9 times: eight times on Broadway and once in London. One of those shows was on a school field trip. I wasn't even in that class, but the teacher knew I liked the show and offered me one of the extra tickets.

I have the original Broadway and London cast albums, as well as the complete symphonic recording (which is 3 discs long and has the entire show), and the 10th anniversary concert recording (which I also have on DVD). I wish they'd release a CD of the 25th Anniversary show, but I do have that on blu-ray.

I also have a program from the Broadway production which had this ad:

Spoiler

So...yeah, I've been waiting for a movie version for a long time.

I still can't believe that they're actually finally making the movie...and that Hugh Jackman is in it! That's just too cool.

Wow, you are a hardcore Les Mis fan. I only saw the show on Broadway, own the original cast CD, and brought a t-shirt (although it's now MIA). I saw Rent in theatre and at the movie, so I hope to do the same when this movie comes out.

 

[danoyse]

I really can't wait to see this. What a lovely cast (Crowe chasing after Jackman with the gorgeous Hathaway involved? Sold) and I love the idea of this being a musical. I still haven't seen King's Speech though. But I can't believe I'm actually looking forward to a musical.

And there's nothing wrong with looking forward to a musical!!

You should check out the latest concert version of the musical (the 25th Anniversary concert). Despite the presence of a Jonas Brother, it's really quite good.

 

[Clu]

And there's nothing wrong with looking forward to a musical!!

You should check out the latest concert version of the musical (the 25th Anniversary concert). Despite the presence of a Jonas Brother, it's really quite good.

Have to think he was put up vs ramin karimloo so hes going to look like he shouldnt be there, but he still did a pretty good job. sometimes he looked pretty lost, but other times he was solid.