Filming details and casting updates on Les Miserables

As reported by Baz Bamigboye --

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-2092428/Stars-original-Les-Miserables-encore-join-cast-new-big-screen-remake.html

*Colm Wilkinson will portray the role of the Bishop of Digne in the movie version. Frances Ruffelle will be in a cameo.

*Rehearsals to start next week (Monday), expected to last 7 weeks.

*Eponine and the Thenardier roles not yet officially cast.

*Filming on sound stages at Pinewood, location filming in some parts of the UK, and maybe in France.

Updated On: 1/26/12 at 06:56 PM

"By the way this is "officially cast", it will be the biggest "duh" in movie history."

Care to clarify/elaborate? Or am I just reading that wrong?

A Valjean with a shaved head??

Have you seen Aronofsky's THE FOUNTAIN -- here's Hugh in the future episode from the movie, with a shaved head:



But they may have to shoot this at the end, if Hugh will have to shave his head fully.

Hmm...interesting option.

"Double Take - We are currently looking for males and females who have experience of doubling/standing-in for the any of the following actors and actresses: Colin Firth,Renee Zellweger, Hugh Grant, Amanda Seyfried, Anne Hathaway, Hugh Jackman, Helena Bonham Carter, Russell Crowe, Eddie Redmayne, Sacha Baron Cohen, Aaron Tveit."

Renee Zellweger?
Did I miss something?

There's some conjecture that the Grant, Zellwegger and Firth calls are for a new Bridget Jones movie that's also filming soon. Nothing to do with Les Miz.

Couldn't they make him look bald without him actually shaving his head?

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If all the prisoners in the first scene have shaved heads, it at least makes more sense that Javert doesn't recognize Valjean later.

The ethnicities thing is interesting. Historically there would be some people of African descent in Paris.

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Don't know who is who, but West End actors in the movie that I know of (pretty much from Twitter reports):

Students:

George Blagden = Grantaire
Fra Fee = Courfeyrac
Alistar Brammer - Jean Prouvaire
Killian Donnelly = Combeferre

Tweets on rehearsals:

Killian Donnelly ? @killiandonnelly
What an incredible day practicing stunts and gun work today. I knew being a boy would pay off one day

Killian Donnelly ? @killiandonnelly
@alistairbrammer @frafee you boys stiff? Think I should have had my hot bath

Fra Fee @frafee
@killiandonnelly @alistairbrammer big time. My necks giving me grief today.

Alistair Brammer ? @alistairbrammer
Today... combat and weapon training. HIIII...YAAA!!! PYEEOOOWWW!! A bit excited

Alistair Brammer ? @alistairbrammer
Got a twingey neck after yesterday, but watching little Michael Mcintyre gig tonight so that shld be jolly fun x

Jonny Purchase, Gabriel Vick and Stevee Davies are students but don't know which ones.

Joseph Altin is a convict.

Also, Julia Worsley is a "featured whore", Jos Slovick, Mary Cormack, Linzi Hateley and Sara Pelosi have unspecified roles.

Alice Fearn tweets:

Alice Fearn @alice_fearn
@Will_So yes ... Factory scene. Playing one of the factory bitches (type cast) ) xx

Alice Fearn @alice_fearn
@spikegrimsey it was fab babe. Just women in factory making jewelry. We have bead Choreography (don't ask) and Hugh & Ann are stunning xx

Russell Crowe tweets:

Russell Crowe ? @russellcrowe
2 hrs riding horses in Rickmansworth, selecting a mount for Javert, guess who turned up for the audition? Rusty, Robin Longstrides horse

Russell Crowe ? @russellcrowe
horse ultimately will be the director's choice.Rode 5, all excellent.Rusty is such a pleasure,asked him if he recognized my voice,head nod

There's a Twitter page set up with just actors in the movie (James Charlton is on there but a recent tweet said he had to back out because of scheduling conflicts):

https://twitter.com/#!/LesMisUSTour/les-miserables-2012-film

Updated On: 2/24/12 at 12:22 PM

Rehearsal tweet photos:

Rhidian Marc ? @RhidianMarc
We been shiotin' guns! pic.twitter.com/Gw2Y1AU7

http://twitter.com/#!/RhidianMarc/status/174122619447156738/photo/1

Rhidian Marc ? @RhidianMarc
You can see the flames in this one! Kick ass. pic.twitter.com/AhkkIB1s

http://twitter.com/#!/RhidianMarc/status/174174348553363457/photo/1

Don't know if this has been posted anywhere, but I was told by norm lewis that sierra boggess Is to play the old hag? I'm guessing one of the lovely ladies.

Thanks, now I'm going to have nightmares of a bald Renee Zelwegger storming a barricade.

LuPone should be the hair hag. Full Circle.