Tom Hooper directing 'Les Miserables' film- Page 5

[pinoyidol2006]

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.

[Wildcard]

Posted: 6/15/11 at 8:57pm

I 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.

[sueb1863]

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!

[best12bars]

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.

Updated On: 6/15/11 at 09:43 PM

[LizzieCurry]

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.

[vf]

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

[pinoyidol2006]

Posted: 6/15/11 at 10:37pm

Meryl Streep for Valjean.

[Fan2]

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?

[JP2]

Posted: 6/15/11 at 11:04pm

Please no to Paul Bettan. If you want a smaller name, go with Michael Fassbender.

[Wildcard]

Posted: 6/15/11 at 11:59pm

I say no to Paul Bettany as Javert. Maybe he can play the bishop Valjean steals from?

[SporkGoddess]

Posted: 6/16/11 at 12:00am

Fantine was 19 in the novel when she became pregnant with Cosette, so she would be around 27 when she died.

[jo]

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!

[sueb1863]

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.

[The Distinctive Baritone]

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.

[madbrian]

Posted: 6/16/11 at 7:31am

I 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.

[LizzieCurry]

Posted: 6/16/11 at 8:01am

I'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.

[Will42]

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/

[best12bars]

Posted: 6/16/11 at 8:15am

If Hugh Jackman plays Jean Valjean, we're going to end up with a "Bring Him Home" that sounds like this.

[mamaleh]

Posted: 6/16/11 at 9:38am

If 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.

[SporkGoddess]

Posted: 6/16/11 at 9:47am

I love Paul Bettany as an actor, but can he sing?

[Fan2]

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

[jennamajig]

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.

[rougeduck]

Posted: 6/16/11 at 1:57pm

I'm predicting that they are going to put Alfie Boe as Bishop. And Marion vs. Hathaway for Fantine seem like the sexiest options.

[NickBottom'sAss]

Posted: 6/16/11 at 2:15pm

Just want to throw out there that I think Timothy Spall would make a good Thenardier

[JP2]

Posted: 6/16/11 at 2:26pm

I'm all about Timothy Spall and Helena B Carter.