Les Miserables Movie Casting Rumors and Filming Date — Page 2

I think Emma Thompson would be great with Rush as the Thenardiers.

EDIT: And I might even prefer Timothy Spall to Geoffrey Rush, since I think he looks the part even more. But Rush is a much bigger star, so there you are.

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Updated On: 8/25/11 at 10:54 AM

The idea of Miranda Cosgrove in this actually intrigues me. With extensive vocal musical training she could be good as Eponine. I like her spunk for this role. If any of you watch iCarly like I do you what I mean.

I like Timothy Spall, but I just don't see him being dynamic enough to pull off Dog Eat Dog, which can be a gripping number (short as it is) with the right actor. I've seen it performed two ways: the first is as something of a placeholder for a costume change that gives Thenadier a little more time to show us what we've already seen; the second is a tense and thrilling number that really brings us to the heart of the character. I think most people have seen the first and probably dismiss it, but when it is directed and performed with care, it can give you chills and I've seen it receive cheering ovations. I think Rush could bring chills that Spall just couldn't achieve.

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"But I'm sure she'll be able to provide her own costuming."

For some reason that really made me laugh, Kad.

The fact that anyone would want Helena Bonham Carter to sing anything ever again really scares me.

Two Hughs would be perfect: Jackman as Valjean, and Laurie as Thenardier. I can dream.

Amy Adams would be an interesting choice as Fantine. I love Emma Watson to death, but can she sing? If she can't it might be best to dub her singing like Audrey Hepburn in "My Fair Lady" and Minnie Driver in "Phantom of the Opera."

Updated On: 8/25/11 at 11:43 AM

"Mme. Th?nardier needs to be loud, garish and brassy. So many more appropriate actresses than Helena could fit the bill."

Can Lisa Lampanelli sing?

Last we heard, shooting was going to begin in February 2012 but this news suggests the shooting date may be moving up (perhaps to get in for Oscar season next year).

I doubt this. For a movie to be eligible for the 2012 Oscars it has to be open in at least one theatre by December 25, 2011. I doubt a movie of this scope could be completed by then - especially if they don't have a full cast yet (that we're aware of).

You know if they cast Radcliffe as Maruis and Watson as Collette the Harry/Hermione will finally be happy lol

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>>I doubt this. For a movie to be eligible for the 2012 Oscars it has to be open in at least one theatre by December 25, 2011. I doubt a movie of this scope could be completed by then - especially if they don't have a full cast yet (that we're aware of).<<<

I think what was meant was filming to start at the end of 2011 to be in theaters by December 2012 to be eligible for Oscars 2013.

"Phantom of the Opera" filmed from Sept. 2003-Jan. 2004 and was in theaters Dec. 2004.

I don't think Bette Midler can play anyone but Bette Midler at this point. Nor do I think she would want to. The Vegas stint took a lot out of her. She looks great for 65, but she would just be Mme. Midler in dirty costumes.

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Helena Bonham Carter doesn't have to whisper in Les Mis. She was asked to do that by Tim Burton in Sweeney Todd (see the DVD extras, where she talks about how he kept asking her to "pull it way down" vocally as a way to pull the audience in).

That wasn't her idea, and I give her zero amount of the blame for that. And we've all seen her be pretty bawdy and menacing in other movie roles. I think she'd be great. Just let her play the damn part, and quit "micromanaging" her performance (are you listening, Mr. Burton?).

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Besty, that's interesting (re Burton's comments to Bonham Carter) since I was watching an Oscar roundtable with the actresses in the running last year and Helena Bonham Carter said that working on SWEENEY TODD was one of the worst experiences of her career because of the way Tim Burton was directing her and treating her on set (she was saying he basically wanted to establish that he hadn't cast her because they were together and apparently gave her a particularly hard time). I wonder what kind of performance she'd have given had the on-set relationship between her and Burton worked out different.
Bonham Carter is one of those actresses that the older she gets, the more interesting her performances/roles get (in a good way). She'd be pitch-perfect in the role, IMO and I don't think the singing is key here in the way that it was in SWEENEY TODD.
I was hoping Marion Cotillard would have a place in this as Fantine, but clearly they are going younger. Rebecca Hall would be a less expected choice than Amy Adams but Adams continues to give surprising performances so I'm sure she'd be great in this too.

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