Les Mis, the movie - confirmed by Schöenberg- Page 4

[Weez]

Posted: 12/23/08 at 7:14pm

If Jon Lee formerly of S Club 7 can play Marius, then Lucas Grabeel isn't much of a stretch. Indeed, Lucas Grabeel is almost like a younger version of Jon...

[Schmerg_The_Impaler]

Posted: 12/23/08 at 7:23pm

I know what you mean! Marius has to sing quite low, though-- Lucas Grabeel is pretty much an alto. He might make a good Valjean in twenty years, though! (Confession: I own the terribly remixed Disneymania pop single of "Go The Distance" from Hercules because of Lucas Grabeel. His voice is just... soaring in that. Even though the arrangement is painfully bad.)

[Salene]

Posted: 12/23/08 at 8:45pm

That's not Ashley, but Jamie Cronin. I have the press reel these clips are from and Jamie is credited.

Jon Lee started in musical theatre as well (title role in the West End Oliver!).

About 10 years ago, I used to think Paula Devicq would be a perfect Fantine.

[Salene]

Posted: 12/23/08 at 9:26pm

She was known as Ashley Marie Tisdale

Ashley Michelle.

[LizzieCurry]

Posted: 12/23/08 at 9:31pm

DAMMIT.

Oh yeah, and no one mentioned Ricky Martin yet. I'm shocked.

[Schmerg_The_Impaler]

Posted: 12/23/08 at 9:43pm

Arrgh, I was just beginning to sleep soundly at night again. I'd almost managed to eradicate Ricky Martin's horrific Marius from my memory. (And here I didn't think it could get any worse than David Bryant... *shudders*)

[Schmerg_The_Impaler]

Posted: 12/23/08 at 9:43pm

[So traumatized that I double-posted, apparently!]

Updated On: 12/23/08 at 09:43 PM

[SharpCookies]

Posted: 12/23/08 at 10:52pm

[i]For the record, I think Lucas Grabeel is by far the most talented Disney Channel 'star.' (Though I can't see him as any of the roles in Les Miserables...)[/i]

:o I was afraid of posting that I loved Lucas Grabeel. Now I am less ashamed. I LOVE that kid; he's the reason why I went to see HSM3. 'I Want It All' made me happy inside.

I think he is very talented, though I can't see him as anything in Les Mis. I want to say Marius, but... no. It wouldn't quite work. *sighs*

I hope they follow through with the movie, though. I am dying to see the musical, and I would have no problem if I did see it through the magic of movie musicals. XD

[fizzthelibertine]

Posted: 12/24/08 at 12:02am

I think Josh Groban could be a decent Marius. He's a baritone though. :/

[LizzieCurry]

Posted: 12/24/08 at 12:17am

There have been a handful of baritones in that role.

Remember this guy? I kinda wish I didn't.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carlos_Marin

[theminutepast]

Posted: 12/24/08 at 12:26am

He was the Spanish Marius. He's another run-of-the-mill Marius to me. What makes him so horrendous?

[LizzieCurry]

Posted: 12/24/08 at 12:31am

His later work.

[Schmerg_The_Impaler]

Posted: 12/24/08 at 9:09am

I actually like baritone Mariuses the best (or baritenors). Mariuses with deeper voices just sound more Mariusy to me, if that makes any sense-- and "Empty Chairs" goes pretty low in places.

[Weez]

Posted: 12/24/08 at 3:49pm

I really want to say "Josh Groban for Enjolras pls". But... Enjolras is so humourless, and Josh Groban is genuinely hilarious. Next time you're on the ebuTuoY, hunt down the episode of Never Mind the Buzzcocks he was in. Should a man that fabulously game and funny really be consigned to the stolid (although endearing) uprightness of an Enjy? :/

[EVIE]

Posted: 12/24/08 at 6:36pm

I have such mixed emotions when it comes to the Les Miz musical movie. I love this show so much that it was break my heart and really piss me off if it was done badly. I agree with so many other posters wishing Kate to be Fantine. She is great. Please no Keira Knightly (sp?)! I can't stand her!!

[fizzthelibertine]

Posted: 12/24/08 at 8:21pm

You know, now that I think about it, Josh would make a good Enjolras too.

[Schmerg_The_Impaler]

Posted: 12/24/08 at 10:26pm

Mmm, thank you for putting that lovely idea into my head! He does have a wonderful voice; I think he'd do a great job. Enjolras is cold and humorless in the book, but in the musical, he can be played with a lot of warmth and charisma, and I think Josh Groban would be fantastic.

[Queen of the Night]

Posted: 12/26/08 at 7:39pm

I do think Josh Groban would be good for Marius--he can handle the tenor stuff in the part, but also has the adequate lower range for "Empty chairs at empty tables". Enjolras needs to have a higher stronger tenor voice. I second the nomination of Anne Hathaway as Fantine. (Don't shoot me, but) Emmy Rossum might not be a bad idea for Cosette. As for the Thenardiers, I'd love nothing better than John Goodman (we know he can sing, he did it in Big River and King Ralph) and Julie Walters (Rosie from the Mamma Mia movie). I think they'd be perfect.

[SporkGoddess]

Posted: 12/27/08 at 12:18am

Ughhh, please no Emmy Rossum.

[Weez]

Posted: 12/27/08 at 3:35am

Well, she's been getting better at singing, and we already know she can play bland and insipid (can she play anything else?), so Rossum as Cosette wouldn't be the worst casting ever.

[Greekmusicalfan]

Posted: 12/27/08 at 6:17am

I ADORE Les Mis, but I think, the time to make it a succesful movie has come and passed ! It's now considered an "old" musical and I don't think people would flock to movie theaters to see it ! The trend is to make movies of shows currently playing on Broadway, so the movie can help the show and vice versa. Add to that the gritty subject and I don't see any studio rushing to put it to screen ! They should have done it years ago, when it was HUGE all over the world...Having said that, of course I'd run to see it, but I don't hold my breath !

[Schmerg_The_Impaler]

Posted: 12/27/08 at 10:24am

Well, Sweeney Todd did pretty well for an 'old musical'! I was surprised to see how many of my non-musical-loving friends suddenly were into Sondheim just because of Johnny Depp on the big screen.

[Greekmusicalfan]

Posted: 12/27/08 at 10:41am

Yes, but Sweeney mainly capitalised on the quite big Burton-Depp fanbase, who would go and see ANYTHING these two put out ! And still, I think it was one of their lowest grossing collaborations, though I could be wrong ! Plus the fact, that it was promoted more as a horror film than as a musical ! Les Mis is very different ! And I am not talking about anything else but the movie's commercial appeal, that would make a studio greenlight it !

[Schmerg_The_Impaler]

Posted: 12/27/08 at 10:51am

Well, that is true.

But I still think that if they picked a popular star to play one of the leads, it could become a hit. And musicals are cool again thanks to Wicked and stuff, so there a lot of new musical fans. (After all, most of the kids at my school had never heard of "Hairspray" until the film with Zac Efron and John Travolta came out!)

[MerMaggieGalinda]

Posted: 12/27/08 at 6:21pm

It would be nice if in the movie they actually made Cosette less of a bland character and gave her some substance. Maybe they should cast someone who is a great actress (as well as a good soprano) to make her interesting. Will probably never happen though.