Ugh... another big movie musical project that will start "next year." This means probably 2-ish years til release, and that's a long time for things to fall apart.
Gosh darnit. I'm really not a huge Hugh Jackman fan and don't want him anywhere near Les Mis. If, however, he's a big enough name to keep Nick Jonas out of the cast, I think I'll be able to make my peace with him.
I truly hope LEZ MIZ comes to fruition with HJ as Jean Valjean. Yes, that is the role he will be taking, reportedly co-starring Paul Bettany as Javert. HJ has a fine bari-tenor that is heard to best effect on songs from serious musical theater.
As to HOUDINI, that seems to be on a very back burner and is nowhere near completion. HJ has indicated that BIG FISH may be more imminent, at least relatively speaking.
>>>I truly hope LEZ MIZ comes to fruition with HJ as Jean Valjean. Yes, that is the role he will be taking, reportedly co-starring Paul Bettany as Javert. HJ has a fine bari-tenor that is heard to best effect on songs from serious musical theater.<<<
Hear, hear!!
This will be a dramatic acting challenge as much as a singing role -- Hugh, who spent many years in dramatic theatre-training ( including classical theatre), with experience in musical theatre (Sunset Boulevard, Beauty and the Beast, Oklahoma!, The Boy from Oz and a concert version of Carousel) and a stint in a straight play ( A Steady Rain), should do fine in this role, one of the theatre's most iconic.
I am excited to see what kind of cinematic vision Tom Hooper will imbue into this dramatic musical with such a sweeping and romantic score and the screen portrayals he will draw from the actors for quite a number of very interesting characters from Victor Hugo's monumental literary work. .
I really don't think he has the notes for Valjean, although I suppose they could lower the whole thing. Valjean is a real rock tenor part. Jackman seems way more appropriate for Javert.
I approve. I'm fine with cutting parts of the score. Their first priority should be making a good movie, and if parts of the score get in the way, I'm fine with some cuts.
Still haven't seen anything official regarding this, hopefully we'll see something soon. It seems certain Hugh's in the film, at least, and while I'm sure he's playing Valjean it'd be nice to get some news on that end.
If he's playing Javert, then hopefully we'll soon find out who's playing Valjean. Right now my money's on HJ for Valjean and Paul Bettany as Javert, since he's rumored to be in talks for the part.
As for the score, I'm sure some stuff will be cut, but I hope they don't drop the recitatives. That's part of what gives the show its character. Change them to dialogue and it's just another musical with words and songs.
LM has been around ...forever...stage versions/concert versions/straight film version.
Did anyone REALLY think they would NOT cast a BIG name as JVJ? Remember, they are looking for revenue not 'the best vocalist' for the role. Who knows, Jackman may turn out to be a good 24601.
It may/may not go the way of the POTO musical film. Time will tell.
There were some articles a while back in which Hooper expressed interest in screen testing Boe for Valjean, but either the tests didn't go well or the studios nixed the idea of casting him. Either way, Hooper apparently dropped the idea of casting him as nothing ever came of it and there hasn't been any more talk of him being involved.
Hopper was in London the beginning of June and went to see Les Mis on June 6. Alfie was in rehearsals for the new cast takeover (which happened last Thursday) and was put into the show for that performance. There has been no word either way from anyone since then.
Treu, but then there's this paragraph from a Daily Mail article dated June 17:
"A new cast, led by Alfie Boe, will perform at the Queen's Theatre from next Thursday. Boe had been thought of as a potential lead for the movie, but Universal and Working Title are demanding stars."
Boe may have been in the running early on but it looks like they've decided to go in a different direction now, if this report is accurate. Glad to see he's doing so well in the stage version, though!