Les Miz: The Movie -- what happened?

[StageManager2]

Posted: 10/21/05 at 11:53am

Hello there! I'm new here, so please bear with me. I recently checked out a video from my local library entitled "LES MISERABLES: STAGE BY STAGE" (198 which was, more or less, about the making of the musical. At the end, producer Mackintosh (I hope I spelled that right) mentioned something about a movie version being in the works, set to be released in, I think he said, 1992. Obviously that never happened. Does anyone have any information why?

[Mother's Younger Brother]

Posted: 10/21/05 at 12:23pm

Yeah, I have a U.S. tour souvenir program that says "In 1992, she will be coming to the cinema." I believe it's even as specific as naming Tri-Star Pictures, and identifying it as "an Alan Parker film."

Hmmm....

[my2cents]

Posted: 10/21/05 at 12:24pm

In one of my old playbills it says the move is coming in 1993. Ofcourse this is pre evita, and the last movie musicals were chorus line, and lil shop, (if you do not count school daze)so to see news on a movie musical was exciting, but atlas it never happened.

I have heard its back on the radar again.

[colleen_lee]

Posted: 10/21/05 at 12:28pm

Now that the movie musical has made a bit of a comeback, it could be coming out of hiding.

I think some of it will hinge on how well RENT does. POTO was a bit of a flop which would be very discouraging to a Les Mis film producer being that they have very similiar feels and audiences, but I think if RENT proves that movie musicals are still successful we could see the Les Mis movie re-emerge.

[Mr. Tuttle]

Posted: 10/21/05 at 12:31pm

There was a thread about this not too long ago.

Tri Star was unable to get it all together and they lost the rights to make the movie.

Since then, another Les Miz movie has come out and was not a money maker.

I'm sure the musical will be made one day.

Updated On: 10/21/05 at 12:31 PM

[LizzieCurry]

Posted: 10/21/05 at 1:14pm

Alan Parker turned it down at one point, too.

[roquat]

Posted: 10/21/05 at 9:42pm

The movies of EVITA and PHANTOM were not really financial flops (especially with overseas and DVD sales), just somewhat disappointing. I'm not sure LES MIZ would work on film, though. All that misery in closeup for three hours? Plus, I think I would be tempted to start giggling during "A Little Fall of Rain"--even onstage I get that urge, I can't help myself, I want to shout, "The gunshot wound wasn't that serious, she just SUNG HERSELF TO DEATH!"

[BSoBW2]

Posted: 10/21/05 at 10:11pm

Well, the show on stage has been cut down to 2:45...and there are certainly other things that can be cut.

If it were made into a movie, there are some scenes that should be added - they don't even need words...

Posted: 10/22/05 at 10:52am

Recall the awful, I belive non-singing, version that was released a few years ago. I think that it made producers nervous to make another one.

[Jon]

Posted: 10/22/05 at 10:59am

My favorite movie that never happened:

In 1976, when the Harold Prince revival of CANDIDE was a hit, a movie version was announced, to star Elton John as Candide, Olivia Newton John as Cunegonde, and Peter Sellers as Voltaire/Pangloss.

[Piazzaslight]

Posted: 10/22/05 at 11:00am

http://www.contactmusic.com/new/xmlfeed.nsf/mndwebpages/les%20miserables%20hits%20hollywood

They're probably going to give it another try.

As for the 1992 version, I didn't know there was supposed to be a film then. Interesting.

[PhantomMag234]

Posted: 10/24/05 at 6:21pm

Appearentley they are in the planning process right now. Besides I think it's a great idea.
Updated On: 10/24/05 at 06:21 PM

[LizzieCurry]

Posted: 10/24/05 at 7:13pm

They've been in the planning process since like 1985.

[jo]

Posted: 10/24/05 at 7:37pm

In the early 90's, it was announced that West End ingenue Catherine Zeta Jones has been cast as Fantine for the movie version being planned then. She'd probably be more the right age now for the role.

[catstagestud]

Posted: 10/24/05 at 7:44pm

Catherine Zeta Jones would be sooo great in that! I hope this goes through

Cheers,

C.

[LizzieCurry]

Posted: 10/26/05 at 5:03am

Bumping this because I found on LJ a collection of links from UseNet regarding the LM movie.
http://www.livejournal.com/community/lesmiz/103911.html

[Urban]

Posted: 10/26/05 at 9:34am

I have read so many different 'visions' for a film version including one that wanted to 'minimize' the singing. What the frack? I mean what would make it then different from all the other bloody Les Mis movies out there?

[roquat]

Posted: 10/26/05 at 12:17pm

Exactly. There are at least ten movie and TV adaptations of this story--do we really need one that's even longer than most of them?

[Grommetik]

Posted: 10/26/05 at 12:43pm

Catherine Zeta Jones isn't emaciated enough to play Fantine. Considering the state of the Hollywood movie musical these days, they'll more than likely get someone like Linsday Lohan to play Eponine and Hillary Duff to play Cosette. They're emaciated though.
I personally think it's a **** idea. We'll get the same crowd of people who thought the Phantom of the Opera was a masterpiece and Emmy Rossum is like, oh my god, the best actress EVERRRR- squealing in cinemas whenever Marius (hmm, possibly played by Justin Timberlake?) comes onscreen. I don't want to sound elitist (or do i?) but it is called musical theatre for a reason. I'm not surprised it never got off the ground. Les Mis is so sacred to most people, actors or not, that directors will back away from it for fear of angering many musical lovers. I really think it's best left as is.

[TheQuibbler]

Posted: 10/26/05 at 3:32pm

Considering the Phantom film and Rent, which could have been a huge victim of this, didn't boast "teen sensation" stars, why would Les Miserables be any different? Hilary Duff and Lindsay Lohan are not the only female movie stars. I think you're overreacting just a little bit, Grommetik.
Updated On: 10/26/05 at 03:32 PM

[LizzieCurry]

Posted: 10/28/05 at 4:11am

We'll get the same crowd of people who thought the Phantom of the Opera was a masterpiece and Emmy Rossum is like, oh my god, the best actress EVERRRR- squealing in cinemas whenever Marius (hmm, possibly played by Justin Timberlake?) comes onscreen.

Wow, come on, have a LITTLE faith, at least.