Les Miserables Movie-Eponine Announced?

[ILOHTFAHA (Aida Man)]

Posted: 9/4/11 at 8:02pm

According to IMDb Pro Lucy Hale is playing Eponine.
Lucy's IMDb pro page

[SporkGoddess]

Posted: 9/4/11 at 8:26pm

Awesome! I hope it's true.

[latitudex1]

Posted: 9/4/11 at 8:28pm

Well she's very pretty (which is probably why she's part of the ABC Family show Pretty Little Liars), and she seems like a competant enough dramatic actress. And hey! It looks like she was on American Juniors, so she's probably pretty talented vocally, too.

There's a clip of her singing the song "Bless Myself" from the direct-to-video A Cinderella Story: Once Upon a Song (really, another one?):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jfJWNULzufc&ob=av2e

I'd love to be able to hear what her voice sounds like without all the Autotune, processing, and pop vocal quirks. But she seems capable enough of singing "On My Own."
Updated On: 9/4/11 at 08:28 PM

[SporkGoddess]

Posted: 9/4/11 at 8:39pm

There are a ton of clips of Lucy Hale singing without any digital effects on YT. Two of them:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ry2JZAEjEoU - "Fever"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uGovuI9nQkA - "Ain't No Mountain High Enough"

Updated On: 9/4/11 at 08:39 PM

[GlindatheGood22]

Posted: 9/4/11 at 8:40pm

Lucy. Huh. Wouldn't have guessed that in a million years, and I'm a Pretty Little Liars fan.

[best12bars]

Posted: 9/4/11 at 8:58pm

She has the right look and a good, strong voice for the material.

If it's true, it seems like a promising choice.

EDIT: Here's a good "no frills/raw" clip of her singing last year, which helps balance all the "processed" clips.

I will say this about her, too. If you go back to her "American Junior" days, nine years ago when she was super young, she had a very good voice then, but over-sang everything. She was practically yelling in that fake "big voice" sound (ala Xtina "junior"). As she has gotten older, she's dropped that over-singing quite a bit. I like the way her voice is evolving as she's getting older. And she's a beautiful girl.

Oh, and I can just picture Helena Bonham Carter as her mother, Mme. Thenardier. They look like they could be mother and daughter. I really hope that casting works out.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7lVxt1rzSz8&feature=related

Updated On: 9/4/11 at 08:58 PM

[Innis_mor]

Posted: 9/5/11 at 2:17pm

The movie is barreling up on the names (Hooper (+ half of King's Speech), Jackman, Hathaway. Hall will do fine.

Now, as piece-de-resistance, they just need to secure Jackie Evancho as Young Cosette. She has not acted but can certainly put emotion into her live singing, so I wonder if she'd be quite OK in a part that doesn't carry through the whole story (someone else has to take over as teen Cosette). She's a young looking 11 right now and I gather Young Cosette is to present as 8-ish. One downside with Evancho though, if Hooper, Universal et al pursue her, and her SYCO label gives its blessing.....the rest of the cast will become a little self-conscious of their singing. Laugh.

[SporkGoddess]

Posted: 9/5/11 at 2:26pm

Maybe. At least it'd be nice for Jackie Evancho to sing something age appropriate for once.

[ReggieonBway]

Posted: 9/5/11 at 2:43pm

I'd actually be down with this. As for Jackie Evancho - it'd be a money draw, but I can't stand her voice.

[JP2]

Posted: 9/5/11 at 2:57pm

I don't see how Evancho would be any type of money draw.

[darquegk]

Posted: 9/5/11 at 3:43pm

Evancho was, if I remember, the biggest selling debut artist of last year, and her music sold well in both the typical digital file format and the now-less-common physical CD formats, meaning that she draws both young and old demographics fairly well. Better than any other 11-year-old singer, at least. It's her or an unknown, I'd wager.

[AEA AGMA SM]

Posted: 9/5/11 at 3:48pm

"I don't see how Evancho would be any type of money draw."

If they are banking on the actress playing young Cosette to be their money draw I would be very, very worried about the expertise of the producers and creative team.

[JP2]

Posted: 9/5/11 at 3:50pm

So she's a popular recording artist. Great. That doesn't mean she'll draw in audiences for a MOVIE. Two completely different media.

[darquegk]

Posted: 9/5/11 at 5:00pm

The way I see it, it's more an issue of if they're willing to pay for her. She certainly couldn't HURT the movie's draw, as I don't see anyone staying away from Les Mis over little Jackie Evancho.

[ILOHTFAHA (Aida Man)]

Posted: 9/5/11 at 5:17pm

Meanwhile I wonder who might play Older Cosette. I hope it's someone who can make the character likable because Cosette is usually portrayed as a bland whiny rich girl. And the role is baiscally nothing. So I would cast someone who can make it likable and memorable and would be able to make it her own.

[ReggieonBway]

Posted: 9/5/11 at 5:24pm

If she wasn't busy with Bonnie & Clyde, I'd suggest Laura Osnes.

[EponineAmneris]

Posted: 9/5/11 at 5:26pm

I will not believe anything about this movie until I am sitting through the closing credits.

[best12bars]

Posted: 9/5/11 at 5:34pm

^ LOL

Ain't it the truth.

[provocation]

Posted: 9/5/11 at 5:36pm

She sounds wonderful!

[ChenoKahn]

Posted: 9/5/11 at 5:47pm

Emma Watson - Cosette

[SporkGoddess]

Posted: 9/5/11 at 5:51pm

ChenoKahn: Was this announced or are you stating your preference?

[ChenoKahn]

Posted: 9/5/11 at 6:10pm

I just think she is good choice.

[SporkGoddess]

Posted: 9/5/11 at 6:15pm

They need a trained soprano in the role. And I mean actually trained, not like Emmy Rossum "I sang in the Children's Choir at the Met" trained.

If Emma Watson fits that bill, then more power to her.

Updated On: 9/5/11 at 06:15 PM

[best12bars]

Posted: 9/5/11 at 6:49pm

If Lucy Hale really is playing Eponine, they're going to need a vocally strong Cosette as a match.

I like the idea of casting a few "box office" names in key roles and then filling out the rest of the cast with (relatively) unknown or little-known talented folks.

I don't know Lucy Hale, but after listening to a few clips (some I hated, some I enjoyed), I can tell she's got a strong voice, and she looks the part. I hope they do as well with other roles.

And yeah, I'm still with EponineAmneris. I'm not believing anything until the closing credits roll.

Updated On: 9/5/11 at 06:49 PM

[EponineAmneris]

Posted: 9/5/11 at 7:03pm

^^^ best12bars, I am very honored at both your posts following mine If there is anyone on this board I truly respect, it is you

Eponine is my favorite character in my favorite musical of all time. I do not know Lucy Hale or watch the show she is on, but thanks to the links and info here, I feel that IF this is anywhere near to being a done deal, I think I could live with it

Updated On: 9/14/11 at 07:03 PM