Samantha Barks to Play Eponine in LES MIS Film- Page 4

[Dave19]

Posted: 2/1/12 at 4:51am

This is just wonderful.

She is a girl that got cast as Eponine before, because she is the right type and has the right voice.
I think that this is what casting is all about.
Choosing the best person, known or not.

I'm very irritated that Amanda Seyfried plays Cosette, because her "name" is the only reason she got cast. If she was unknown she would never have gotten the role. Of course she plays well, but more girls play well. Girls that sing better and that are more the right type.

I respect the producer and director for choosing the right thing with Eponine, and wish they had done that for more roles. Good singing makes or breaks a movie musical and I think there will be a big clash in singing quality in this film.

In 500 years this film will still exist, and then no one cares in how many other films Amanda Seyfried has played. They only see that love triangle with a wonderful singing Eponine and a not so wonderful Cosette, and hoping that Marius will choose Eponine.

And finally, this is what Hollywood is about. Discovering new people, making stars. What impressed me the most of Samantha's performance in the 25th anniversary concert was her ACTING. It's just as good as Amanda's and Anne's. So the "name" and "fame" is all very, very relative. Stars can be made, and in the end the true quality shows and sounds on the screen anyway.

[allofmylife]

Posted: 2/1/12 at 5:13am

Don't forget that Amanda Seyfred starred in one of the highest grossing musical movies of all time. Mamma Mia made $609,000,000 worldwide, reason enough to cast her in Les Miz. She is actually a surer bet than many of her co-stars. Again from a Hollywood perspective.....

[jo]

Posted: 2/1/12 at 5:25am

Mamma Mia! is the highest grossing musical worldwide of all time! And Universal Pictures was elated about that honor, something that they hope can be replicated or at least come close to in their next movie musical LES MISERABLES.

I don't think there is any need to diss anyone who has been officially cast in any of the roles, not until we have seen their performances ( acting- and singing-wise) and how their special presence have lit up the big screen. Film and stage are two different mediums and this movie can prove that some actors can transcend either medium and deliver truly memorable performances! In the same vein, some actors with no major musical theatre experience can also deliver vivid portrayals of their respective roles. I am reminded of how Rex Harrison spoke-sang through his role of Professor Higgins and showed us how well he has left his impact on that iconic role.



Updated On: 2/1/12 at 05:25 AM

[kec]

Posted: 2/1/12 at 6:20am

Samantha Barks was interviewed by BBC Breakfast earlier (footage includes Mackintosh's announcement):


BBC Breakfast interviews Samantha Barks Updated On: 2/1/12 at 06:20 AM

[Princeton Returns]

Posted: 2/1/12 at 6:30am

Yes Mamma Mia is a high grossing film, but that has nothing to do with Amandas casting.

As for Sam being 'safe' casting. She is an unknown so its hardly safe in Hollywood. Safe would have been casting Lea Michelle (a worse thought than Taylor Swift in my book). Sam is very talented, stunningly beautiful and very sexy. Agree, she has potential to make it big in Hollywood. Maybe if she goes down well Universal would green light Wicked as she would be a great Elphaba

[best12bars]

Posted: 2/1/12 at 7:16am

Yes Mamma Mia is a high grossing film, but that has nothing to do with Amandas casting.

You don't know much about casting, then, do you?

"Barks" is an unfortunate name for a singer.

[Princeton Returns]

Posted: 2/1/12 at 7:20am

So your saying all those people saw Mamma Mia because Amanda was in it?

[madbrian]

Posted: 2/1/12 at 8:45am

Barks would be an even more unfortunate name if she weren't so damn attractive.

[Michael Bennett]

Posted: 2/1/12 at 10:03am

Something definitely fell through with negotiations at the last minute, and I mean it as no slight to Bark's talent that they probably were in a bind and needed somebody who could start rehearsals like - tomorrow. Pretty unlikely another name would have had that kind of flexibility with scheduling.Barks knows the role and is under contract to Mackintosh already. And they now get to go the 'star is born' approach. Win solution.

[Fan2]

Posted: 2/1/12 at 10:08am

I actually agree with this scenario, it sounds very plausible. Taylor has tours booked in March and she has to rehearse for Grammys in February so perhaps it was those "scheduling conflicts" that couldn't be worked out. Add to the fact that Barks looked very shocked when it was announced on stage.

Updated On: 2/1/12 at 10:08 AM

[StageManager2]

Posted: 2/1/12 at 10:52am

I hope they don't shaft Cosette in this film adaptation. She's the unsung hero(ine) of the stage musical. In the book, Cosette has a much more important role than Eponine, who pretty much just pines for Marius and then literally takes a bullet for him. But Cosette is the central figure, in that all the other major characters are somehow interconnected through her -- Fantine is her mother, Valjean becomes her adoptive father, Marius is her love interest, the Thenardiers were her keepers, Eponine was like her foster sister, Javert arrests her mother and later spends the entire story tracking down her protector. It's like "6 Degress of Cosette." In short, I hope they flesh her part out more to be in line with the book.

[finebydesign]

Posted: 2/1/12 at 11:12am

I echo Michael Bennett's comments. Film producers work right up to the LAST minute casting and with big names they have a little dance to do. It is about touring windows and prior commitments.

Without Swift it does shape to be a fairly "arty" film. The combined above-the-line players do have massive appeal, what an exciting project.

[Midnight Radio]

Posted: 2/1/12 at 11:29am

[Midnight Radio]

Posted: 2/1/12 at 11:32am

Updated On: 2/1/12 at 11:32 AM

[LizzieCurry]

Posted: 2/1/12 at 11:34am

This isn't Tumblr, you guys.

[finebydesign]

Posted: 2/1/12 at 11:34am

Also should Barks garner an Oscar for this role, she might just be our movie Elphaba.

[best12bars]

Posted: 2/1/12 at 11:37am

Also should Barks garner an Oscar for this role, she might just be our movie Elphaba.

Based on the clip below, I'd say both are unlikely. She's really not impressing me with her singing or her acting/interpretation. I hope they can make it work in the Les Mis movie.


Samantha sings Defying Gravity

Updated On: 2/1/12 at 11:37 AM

[ray-andallthatjazz86]

Posted: 2/1/12 at 11:58am

I hope they don't shaft Cosette in this film adaptation. She's the unsung hero(ine) of the stage musical. In the book, Cosette has a much more important role than Eponine

I agree, and it makes me wonder if this screenplay goes back to the book in some ways, the casting of such a star as Cosette and Barks as Eponine certainly suggests so. And it's funny the way some people evaluate stardom on this board, Seyfried is probably the biggest star this film landed, the biggest draw for the younger demo (after Anne Hathaway, I guess) which is what they want. Jackman is notorious for his inability to open a movie that doesn't have X-MEN in the title, Crowe hasn't had a successful star vehicle in years and not for lack of trying, Helena Bonham Carter has never been known as--and has never tried to be--a big box office name. Seyfried has MAMMA MIA and DEAR JONE as big hits to her name, young people know who she is, they go to her movies, period.
I still don't understand why people are so freaked out about her casting, clearly we weren't gonna get an operatic version of LES MIZ, this is a musical adaptation. For the most legit sung LES MIZ you can watch the filmed concerts. I'm very excited about the cast they put together (though a bit bummed out about Barks, but trusting Hooper on this one).

[best12bars]

Posted: 2/1/12 at 12:02pm

So your saying all those people saw Mamma Mia because Amanda was in it?

No, that's not what I'm saying. But you now have millions (and millions and millions) of moviegoers worldwide who saw her play a major role in a big hit film musical.

That's what I'm saying.

Updated On: 2/1/12 at 12:02 PM

[bwayrose7]

Posted: 2/1/12 at 12:26pm

Really happy to see Samantha get this part! I thought she was wonderful in the 25th and I'm so glad she will have a chance to be seen by a wider audience. As far as Amanda is concerned, I'm hoping for the best. This casting announcement does give me hope that the movie will be as good as we fans can hope for. Congrats to Samantha and best of luck to the complete cast!

[finebydesign]

Posted: 2/1/12 at 12:34pm

"And it's funny the way some people evaluate stardom on this board, Seyfried is probably the biggest star this film landed, the biggest draw for the younger demo (after Anne Hathaway, I guess) which is what they want."

I dunno, Hugh Jackman (though targeting a broader demo) has box-office stats that DWARF everyone else in this cast...with the exception of Cohen. Cohen has been part of mega-hits but not in the way Jackman has. Hugh Jackman is a massive celebrity, his numbers are incredible. I don't know what happened to Russell Crowe's career, Hathaway has a career that Seyfriend probably strives for. Let's hope this movie is better than the show and something that appeals to everyone.

[SporkGoddess]

Posted: 2/1/12 at 12:35pm

ray: I was hoping for a situation like in Sweeney Todd where Johanna had a softer, thinner voice but still had a strong upper register and could hit those high notes. Amanda may surprise me, and I hope that she does, but what I heard in Mamma Mia! did not make me optimistic. But, as you know, I hold my sopranos to high standards.

I also feel like Cosette gets shafted. Everyone outside of this MB was like "oh, Taylor should just play Cosette, no one cares about her." It made me very, very sad.

[Bluelark]

Posted: 2/1/12 at 1:02pm

Anything is an improvement after Swift. Even if negotiations with her fell through, it's starting to look like a genius publicity move. Now everyone's looking at the unknown actress who's taking her place.

I don't think Samantha Barks is an exceptional talent, or even the best recent West End Eponine they could have chosen, but she can certainly play the part satisfactorily. And who knows what sort of performance Tom Hooper may get out of her?

I don't expect her to give an Oscar-worthy performance or be cast as the movie Elphaba. Although, in fairness to her, that clip of Defying Gravity that someone posted was from when she was 17.

[Taryn]

Posted: 2/1/12 at 1:09pm

In 500 years this film will still exist, and then no one cares in how many other films Amanda Seyfried has played. They only see that love triangle with a wonderful singing Eponine and a not so wonderful Cosette, and hoping that Marius will choose Eponine.

Let me tell you what Hollywood is not concerned about: the reaction to their movies 500 years after the fact. They are concerned with their box office and, for a movie like this, critical reaction and the opinion of the Academy.

It'd be nice if we could always think of art in terms of lasting integrity, but it's not realistic. You can't just forget thinking about money. You can say that the film already has enough big names to sell it without Seyfried as Cosette, and you might be right, but I don't think "audiences 500 years from now won't like her" is a very realistic way to approach film-making (or any kind of art).

[Dave19]

Posted: 2/1/12 at 1:32pm

You are right, but it still annoys the hell out of me when I watch a film and think ""My god, I can name 10 actresses/singers right away that could have done this better". And everyone in the audience will feel that.

I had the same feeling with Emmy Rossum in the Phantom film.
You know, films like this are not made very often, and how wonderful would it be if they had a perfect, crystal clear, beautiful singer AND actress as Cosette? That the audience would gasp at her singing, my god, this is the most beautiful thing I've ever heard?

It's things like that that make the film exceptional instead of mediocre.

Oh well, I guess I'm just too much a part of the "arts" camp instead of the "money" camp.