Les Miserables Movie Auditions/Casting Info — Page 4

It'll be done by December of 2012. Most big budget films have long productions, and even longer post-productions. Musicals are different. They generally have very short post production time, while having an extremely long production period.

The buzz is that rehearsals and recordings will start in January and February and principal photography to start on March 5.

The unique constraint for this filming is that Hugh Jackman is committed to start shooting his next WOLVERINE movie in the summer of 2012, to allow it to open in the summer of 2013.

Tom Hooper has worked with a similar constraint when he filmed King's Speech. Filming was completed supposedly in only 39 days because Geoffrey Rush was committed to do a play in London.

Hugh Jackman will obviously not be available now as his Broadway show ends on January 1, 2012...but he was in London for a few days before his Broadway show started rehearsals and it has been mentioned that he had meetings with the LesMis creative team, most ostensibly with the musical director. So, maybe he has already been learning his music for the show or even part of the new dialog introduced in this movie musical to replace some of the recitatives?

And wasn't Russell Crowe supposed to be filming another movie ( Broken City?) before he gets into the LesMis preparations and filming? Presumably this has already been factored into the schedule. Maybe he will be learning his Javert part in his movie trailer for this film project?

Hugh Jackman and Russell Crowe are very focused professionals so I have no doubts they will be ready despite other projects underway.

Since the principal roles and some of the support roles have already been cast, I am not overly worried that they are taking too long about casting Enjolras, Cosette and Eponine. Maybe the roles have actually been cast and any current casting activities are to secure standbys in case something happens to the original casting?

But it is true that this will be Tom Hooper's first movie musical and also maybe his very first blockbuster movie -- so maybe he needs an intensive and exhaustive pre-prod? It is likely that the suits ( UNIVERSAL) will step in if things are not turning out as they should and be very supportive along the way. The studio's last movie musical was a huge box office success ( Mamma Mia!).

Updated On: 11/26/11 at 07:05 PM

I think they've always planned on a January rehearsal start and March filming start, so there doesn't seem to be any change there. Mackintosh doesn't indicate exactly why there would be a delay, although he does freely admit that he doesn't know what he's talking about when it comes to film post production.

Either there's something going on behind the scenes that they're not talking about that would delay production, or they've decided to go with 3D and are realizing that this will add time to the post production. But they don't really have a lot of wiggle room - as has been pointed out, this isn't a spring or summer type movie, and they won't want to wait an entire year to release it.

There's always the chance that they'll scrap the entire production if the timing doesn't work right. It happened with the Tri Star Alan Parker version. If they lose Hugh they might as well postpone or fold the whole thing, I don't think they can cast anybody else in the part.

Well, in the USA that would be 5 days before December 12, 2012

But Australia ( where Jackman, Crowe, and maybe Rush, come from) will miss it, as the release of the movie there won't happen till December 26, 2012.

Unless, like XMEN ORIGINS:WOLVERINE, it is leaked online via a workprint being used for post-production purposes

Yeah, Hooper was there last night! Hugh introduced him from the stage and suggested that if they wanted a guaranteed $100 million dollar opening, they should add singing vampires. :)

Saw this on Twitter tonight:

Danielle Ricci
Huge audition Wednesday for the role of Cosette in the upcoming musical film version of Les Miserables! EVERYONE PRAY FOR ME! NEED TO LEARN THREE SONGS between now and then! ?

I have a friend who just got called in for Cosette as well. Sounds like Emma's for sure out.

Last we read the Emma thing was a rumor but I guess some missed that report.

I've read some interviews with Eddie Redmayne on his role in "My Week with Marilyn" and I was surprised he wasn't asked about Les Mis at all.

From the New York Post:

Four misses in ‘Miz’ race

Last Updated: 12:25 AM, November 30, 2011

Taylor Swift, Lea Michele, Scarlett Johansson and Evan Rachel Wood are all in the running for the highly coveted role of Eponine in Oscar-winning director Tom Hooper’s big-screen version of “Les Misérables,” sources tell us. A source close to the film confirmed that the four actors have all auditioned for the role. Another said that Michele “knocked it out of the park” when the “Glee” star — who played Young Cosette in the Broadway show — recently performed for the “King’s Speech” director. But it will be a tough choice because each star has her own magic ingredient for the musical based on Victor Hugo’s novel. “Scarlett brings acting ability, and she can really sing,” said the source. “Evan Rachel Wood brings her indie cred.” And casting Swift would mark a major move over to Hollywood films for the pop star. The Working Title and Universal movie is already stocked with stars, including Hugh Jackman, Russell Crowe, Anne Hathaway, Eddie Redmayne and Geoffrey Rush.

Read more: http://www.nypost.com/p/pagesix/four_misses_in_miz_race_lA2uGGfyFSK3JJ9QFASLPO#ixzz1fBjTCx2x

I also read on a MB from someone that sounds like they know what they are talking about (a few things were mentioned before they became public) that Lea Michele was never considered/dismissed early and the director wasn't interested in her.

Sadly, that is rarely the case ... but I'm hopeful.

---