Colm Wilkinson and Frances Ruffelle in Les Mis Movie

[Fan2]

Posted: 1/26/12 at 7:01pm

As reported by Baz Bamigboye - Wilkinson will be the Biship and Ruffelle one of the whores.

>>>The original stars of the stage version of musical Les Miserables will join Hugh Jackman and Russell Crowe in the big-screen version, which begins rehearsals on Monday.

Colm Wilkinson, who was the first Jean Valjean, and Frances Ruffelle, who created the part of Eponine, have been given feature roles in the movie.

Wilkinson will play the Bishop of Digne. ‘He shows Valjean the road ahead, after Valjean has robbed him of silver candlesticks,’ says Cameron Mackintosh, who produced the musical on stage and who is also involved with Working Title and Universal in making the picture, which Oscar-winner Tom Hooper will direct.

‘“I have bought your soul for God!” the bishop says to Valjean — and it’s a beautiful moment,’ Cameron told me.

Wilkinson, who played Valjean in London and on Broadway, said that as he takes on the role of the bishop, his journey with Les Miserables has ended ‘and I have come full circle’.

Cameron also revealed that Ruffelle will play ‘the most fabulous whore’ in the movie, and while she won’t have a song of her own, she will be part of the group of prostitutes who sing the number Lovely Ladies.<<<




Wilkinson and Ruffelle Join Cast Updated On: 1/26/12 at 07:01 PM

[best12bars]

Posted: 1/26/12 at 7:27pm

LOVE it!

And I actually suggested Wilkinson should play the Bishop many (many) threads ago. Obviously, I wasn't alone with that sentiment. I'm glad they did it on their own, although I'm sure they just PORE through these threads to get all their ideas.

[JP2]

Posted: 1/26/12 at 7:45pm

A glimmer of something not terrible!

[bobbybaby85]

Posted: 1/26/12 at 7:46pm

Updated On: 2/20/18 at 07:46 PM

[06s091]

Posted: 1/26/12 at 7:52pm

We also need to have Michael Ball in there. :)

[CATSNYrevival]

Posted: 1/26/12 at 7:54pm

^That would actually be pretty awesome if LuPone played the factory b*tch, but I doubt she'd ever agree to do it.

[bobbybaby85]

Posted: 1/26/12 at 7:55pm

Updated On: 2/20/18 at 07:55 PM

[bobbybaby85]

Posted: 1/26/12 at 7:56pm

Updated On: 2/20/18 at 07:56 PM

[06s091]

Posted: 1/26/12 at 8:16pm

>>Michael Ball could be Tenardier's customer.<<

There have been rumours that there will be new songs and more from the original French show(and or the novel) would be included.
Michael could then play Monsieur Gillenormand - Marius' grandfather...

Other possibilities: Bamatabois, one of the constables or factory foreman.



Updated On: 1/26/12 at 08:16 PM

[EricMontreal22]

Posted: 1/26/12 at 8:19pm

Ball can play a new character, a huge Madam to the whores :)

[06s091]

Posted: 1/26/12 at 8:25pm

With his Sweeney beard? I doubt it... :)

[kec]

Posted: 1/26/12 at 9:10pm

I was thinking Michael could play the customer Fantine attacked.

[bobbybaby85]

Posted: 1/26/12 at 9:11pm

Updated On: 2/20/18 at 09:11 PM

[adamgreer]

Posted: 1/26/12 at 9:46pm

Michael Ball should play the Factory Foreman ("I might have known the bitch could fight...")!

[HumATune]

Posted: 1/26/12 at 9:58pm

Will Frances wear the outfit she wore at the 25th Anniversary concert?

[FindingNamo]

Posted: 1/26/12 at 10:24pm

How cruel to make Frances a whore!

[AC126748]

Posted: 1/26/12 at 10:31pm

Patti should play the old whore.

[best12bars]

Posted: 1/26/12 at 10:36pm

Maybe she can play the tuba.

[broadwaybabytn]

Posted: 1/26/12 at 10:39pm

Ms. Lupone will not be appearing in that role. I believe you are thinking of the role Faith Dane has already signed on to play: "Old Whore with Trumpet"

[BWNUT]

Posted: 1/26/12 at 10:40pm

"Will Frances wear the outfit she wore at the 25th Anniversary concert?"

umm ... no..that's too over the top....even for a whore.



Updated On: 1/26/12 at 10:40 PM

[evic]

Posted: 1/26/12 at 10:45pm

Randi Graff can play one of the nuns.

[HumATune]

Posted: 1/26/12 at 10:45pm

BWNUT, I was being facetious.

[jo]

Posted: 1/26/12 at 11:01pm

In the original London cast, some of the female leads would also double up for the whores who sang LOVELY LADIES - two of them were Rebecca Caine ( who played Cosette) and Frances Ruffelle ( who played Eponine).

[LizzieCurry]

Posted: 1/27/12 at 2:09am

That was the case in all the replica productions.

Maybe they can bring back as many Gavroches as possible for various barricade boys...

[sueb1863]

Posted: 1/27/12 at 6:28am

I'm sure if Frances felt the whore part was cruel, she would have turned it down.

Since she played the part of a whore in the original production, I don't think it'll bother her, any more than it bothered Chita Rivera to play an old prostitute in 'Chicago' (a great cameo, by the way, the first time I saw it in the movie theater, someone in the audience actually gasped out loud when he recognized who it was!).