Tom Hooper directing 'Les Miserables' film- Page 5
Tom Hooper directing 'Les Miserables' film
Broadway Star Joined: 5/3/11
Tom Hooper directing 'Les Miserables' film#100
Posted: 6/15/11 at 8:56pm
No Lea Salonga in this one, then.
Could Kate Winslet play Fantine? Or should she be younger? I always picture Fantine as older, but realistically speaking she's probably in her late 20s/early 30s.
Broadway Legend Joined: 6/21/06
Tom Hooper directing 'Les Miserables' film#101
Posted: 6/15/11 at 8:57pmI believe Cameron wants Alfie Boe as Valjean in the film surrounded by bigger Hollywood stars. I would rather see Hugh as Javert as well. He has the "look" for it. In terms of my dream Valjean, if Universal won't let Alfie do it, I'd like to see Russell Crowe in the role.
Tom Hooper directing 'Les Miserables' film#102
Posted: 6/15/11 at 9:06pm
I seem to recall that Fantine was very young in the book, little more than a teenager when she had Cosette. Winslet's a little too old for the book Fantine but the musical Fantine is more mature so she'd be OK there.
I think Macintosh really wants Alfie Boe as Valjean so Hugh's probably going for Javert, unless Hooper decided Boe wouldn't work. The original Variety article says they don't know which role Jackman was trying out for, so I'm not sure where the other article got the idea he was definitely going for Valjean.
Hooper usually does a great job with casting (i.e. John Adams and The KIng's Speech) so I trust him to make the right choices with this. He'd better, there's going to be a LOT of money at stake!
Tom Hooper directing 'Les Miserables' film#103
Posted: 6/15/11 at 9:43pm
Mainstream audiences would last 4 measures with Alfie Boe before they got up from their seats and left. He's way too operatic for this music.
If they want to make a low-budget art film, then he's your guy.
EDIT: Since Jackman is already in it (ugh), I would go with Jackman as Javert and Russell Crowe as Jean Valjean. And Marion Cotilliard as Fantine.
blocked: logan2, Diamonds3, Hamilton22
Tom Hooper directing 'Les Miserables' film#104
Posted: 6/15/11 at 9:45pm
Agreed on Boe, much as I love him (and have for years).
I believe Fantine had Cosette when she was 17 or 18, so she'd be in her mid 20s when she dies.
Tom Hooper directing 'Les Miserables' film#105
Posted: 6/15/11 at 9:55pm
Deadline's story on this:
"Tom Hooper's 'Les Miserables' Wants Hugh Jackman To Play Jean Valjean
By THE DEADLINE TEAM | Wednesday June 15, 2011 @ 6:01pm
Universal and Working Title's adaptation of Les Miserables, which has The King's Speech helmer Tom Hooper directing, is eyeing Hugh Jackman to play the lead role of Jean Valjean. But that doesn't mean it's a done deal -- in fact, we hear that there's been no offer and no talks as of yet. Still, Jackman, a Tony winner, seems the perfect choice for the musical adaptation of the Victor Hugo novel, which centers on the struggle by ex-con Valjean to outrun his past and his relentless pursuer Javert. It's certain the project will attract a strong cast, so we'll see."
Deadline: Tom Hooper's 'Les Miserables' Wants Hugh Jackman To Play Jean Valjean
Broadway Star Joined: 5/3/11
Tom Hooper directing 'Les Miserables' film#106
Posted: 6/15/11 at 10:37pmMeryl Streep for Valjean.
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/7/04
Tom Hooper directing 'Les Miserables' film#107
Posted: 6/15/11 at 10:50pm
Deadline now says they want Hugh for JVJ, and Paul Bettany maybe for Javert. Also possible filming by the end of the year, but James Mangold has just been announced as the new director for "Wolverine" which is supposed to film in the fall, so who knows how this will shake out.
Paul Bettan as Javert?
Broadway Legend Joined: 6/2/07
Tom Hooper directing 'Les Miserables' film#108
Posted: 6/15/11 at 11:04pmPlease no to Paul Bettan. If you want a smaller name, go with Michael Fassbender.
Broadway Legend Joined: 6/21/06
Tom Hooper directing 'Les Miserables' film#109
Posted: 6/15/11 at 11:59pmI say no to Paul Bettany as Javert. Maybe he can play the bishop Valjean steals from?
Tom Hooper directing 'Les Miserables' film#110
Posted: 6/16/11 at 12:00amFantine was 19 in the novel when she became pregnant with Cosette, so she would be around 27 when she died.
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/15/03
Tom Hooper directing 'Les Miserables' film#111
Posted: 6/16/11 at 12:51am
I suspect the film version will be different from the stage productions that we have seen. The screenplay will likely have a more cinematic vision of the story-telling by Victor Hugo, rather than just the musicalized version of Boublil and Schonberg. They may do away with much of the recitatives, instead replace them with spoken dialogs, for more drama and heightened portrayals of the characters. The music will be used to heighten the sweeping and romantic scale of this historical drama! Hence, there seems to be some preference for proven screen actors, preferably with excellent singing ability. I am surprised that they might consider Paul Bettany ( although he was an excellent antagonist in DA VINCI CODE) for the role of Javert, not knowing he can also sing.
Hugh has been interested in the Valjean role maybe for sometime now -- during his San Fancisco solo show interviews, he did highlight that he would like to play Valjean in the movie musical version of Les Miserables. I assumed that someone was working behind the scenes to let the producers know about his interest.
Hope it happens!
Tom Hooper directing 'Les Miserables' film#112
Posted: 6/16/11 at 6:38am
Hm, so far the articles have been all over the map! Either Jackman's in talks, or he's been cast as Valjean, or there have been NO talks or offers at all!
That's show biz!
And I hope they don't mess with the show's recitatives, it's one of the elements that give the show its character.
Tom Hooper directing 'Les Miserables' film#113
Posted: 6/16/11 at 6:58am
What? What?
I'm not a fan of Hugh Jackman's singing voice to begin with (although he's a fantastic actor), but he's not even a tenor! Can he even sing the role? And as people have said, he's much more of a Javert anyway. I just...don't...get it.
Tom Hooper directing 'Les Miserables' film#114
Posted: 6/16/11 at 7:31amI don't know if Christian Bale can sing well enough for Javert, but if he could, I think he'd be great for the role. Anne Hathaway is 28, which is just about the right age for Fantine. I think Hugh Laurie would be ideal for Thenardier.
Tom Hooper directing 'Les Miserables' film#115
Posted: 6/16/11 at 8:01amI'm also not a huge fan of Jackman's singing voice. I think he can sing it; it just won't be all that pretty.
Tom Hooper directing 'Les Miserables' film#116
Posted: 6/16/11 at 8:02am
Paul Bettany is a frontrunner for the role of Javert.
Deadline reporting:
Universal and director Tom Hooper want Hugh Jackman for the role of Jean Valjean in Les Miserables. So who might stalk him in the role of Javert? I'm told that Paul Bettany is a candidate and that he read for the role and sang the songs from the Cameron Mackintosh-produced stage hit. Mackintosh is producing the film with Working Title partners Tim Bevan and Eric Fellner, and Bill Nicholson has written the script. The intention is to begin production before year’s end, somewhere in Europe. Let's see if this goes anywhere.
http://www.deadline.com/2011/06/if-hugh-jackman-plays-jean-valjean-will-paul-bettany-play-javert-in-les-miserables/
Tom Hooper directing 'Les Miserables' film#117
Posted: 6/16/11 at 8:15amblocked: logan2, Diamonds3, Hamilton22
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/11/04
Tom Hooper directing 'Les Miserables' film#118
Posted: 6/16/11 at 9:38amIf you're not a fan, then you don't have to go see the eventual movie, assuming Hugh J. is cast. I think he has a powerful voice--sometimes described as bari-tenor, sometimes lower tenor--that is put to best use when he is playing a dramatic role, preferably in classic musical theater: I saw his show in San Francisco; for me the highlight was "Soliloquy" for that very reason. His casting will bring in audiences that usually do not go see musical movies. He has a tremendous likability that will serve the Valjean character well. I think it is a brilliant piece of casting. I truly hope this comes to fruition.
Tom Hooper directing 'Les Miserables' film#119
Posted: 6/16/11 at 9:47amI love Paul Bettany as an actor, but can he sing?
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/7/04
Tom Hooper directing 'Les Miserables' film#120
Posted: 6/16/11 at 9:56am
Apparently, yes. And according to this article, he knows Hooper because Hooper offered him the lead role in The King's Speech but he turned it down.
"(although he did busk on the streets of London as a teenager, so can presumably carry a tune)."
https://blogs.indiewire.com/theplaylist/archives/paul_bettany_may_escape_from_screen_gems_purgatory_to_play_inspector_javert
And BWW reports he once played Bill Sykes:
"Bettany was 21 he appeared in a BBC production of Oliver Twist, as Bill Sikes."
https://www.broadwayworld.com/article/Paul-Bettany-Up-for-Javert-in-LES-MISRABLES-Film-Opposite-Hugh-Jackman-20110616#ixzz1PRWbPACM
Tom Hooper directing 'Les Miserables' film#121
Posted: 6/16/11 at 10:21am
I think Hugh Laurie would be ideal for Thenardier.
Yes, agree on that!
I like the idea of Jackman more as Javert; I can't picture him as Valjean. Yes, I know he can sing, but still....perhaps if this casting is true he will prove me wrong.
Broadway Star Joined: 6/5/07
Tom Hooper directing 'Les Miserables' film#122
Posted: 6/16/11 at 1:57pmI'm predicting that they are going to put Alfie Boe as Bishop. And Marion vs. Hathaway for Fantine seem like the sexiest options.
Tom Hooper directing 'Les Miserables' film#123
Posted: 6/16/11 at 2:15pmJust want to throw out there that I think Timothy Spall would make a good Thenardier
Broadway Legend Joined: 6/2/07
Tom Hooper directing 'Les Miserables' film#124
Posted: 6/16/11 at 2:26pmI'm all about Timothy Spall and Helena B Carter.
Videos
