"King's Speech" director to take on "Les Miserables"

CaptainCanada · March 27 2011, 04:23 AM

The Guardian:

Tom Hooper, the Oscar-winning director of the King's Speech, looks set to take on a big-screen adaptation of long-running musical Les Miserables, reports Deadline.

Speculation has linked Hooper to a number of projects, including Les Mis, since his Academy Awards triumph. However, according to Deadline the British film-maker has now begun negotiations with Universal Pictures to adapt the stage hit for what could well be his next film. Bill Nicholson, the Oscar-nominated writer of Gladiator and Shadowlands, will take on script duties.

Hooper's spokesperson has subsequently confirmed Deadline's report.

Les Miserables is one of the most successful musicals in history, but plans to bring it to the screen have been chronically unsuccessful; there was a fairly serious attempt in the early 90s, first under Sir Alan Parker (Fame, Mississippi Burning, subsequently Evita) and then Bruce Beresford (Tender Mercies, Driving Miss Daisy). Can Hooper at last pull this off?

I hope so, because it's a great musical with several of the most iconic songs of the last quarter-century. Admittedly, it'll be a bit of a squeeze to get a film of manageable length.

Kestrel · March 27 2011, 04:43 AM

Hmm... good luck with it. The musical's three hours long and it barely covers the major parts of Hugo's book. And I wouldn't want them to cut anything out of it.

Glad they're adapting the musical though. As good as Neeson and Rush were as Valjean and Javert respectively, the way that movie adaptation was structured (and ended!) was... not so good.

DBR · March 30 2011, 10:25 AM

I haven't seen any of the earlier theatrical incarnations of Les Mis, but they have to get Alphie Boe: he's amazing as Val Jean!

CaptainCanada · March 30 2011, 06:19 PM

The only real movie star I can think of who could handle the male lead roles would be Hugh Jackman, who I could see in either of the leads, but I think would be best as Javert.

Turbo · March 31 2011, 02:35 AM

DBR wrote:

I haven't seen any of the earlier theatrical incarnations of Les Mis, but they have to get Alphie Boe: he's amazing as Val Jean!

Agreed; I was blown away by his performance in the 25th anniversary concert. He's still not as good as Colm Wilkinson, but then again, nobody is.

On a related note, I think that Norm Lewis is a fantastic Javert; he might be the best one I've seen.

Unicron · March 31 2011, 02:50 AM

Yeah, I've seen Colm's performance in the 10th Anniversary version. I still consider that one of my favorite incarnations, as I think just about everyone in the cast was great. I saw some of the 25th Anniversary on TV recently, and while I'm sure those performers are well talented, it wasn't the same.

ClayinCA · March 31 2011, 07:45 PM

Making a movie out of Les-Miserables-the-musical has been planned for so long that I can recall my college girlfriend and I speculating in horror that some wrongheaded executive would cast Kenny Rogers as Jean Valjean. (And if that doesn't tell you how long ago it was, I'll just point out that I'm in my forties now...

)

Turbo · March 31 2011, 08:48 PM

Another note on the 25th Anniversary concert: it's very weird seeing Lea Salonga play Fantine; I'm so used to her as Eponine. But she does a fantastic job.

RandyS · April 1 2011, 01:37 AM

There hasn't been a decent adaption since Orson Welles did it.

Although the Liam Neeson movie wasn't so bad.

Kestrel · April 1 2011, 01:52 AM

Wasn't so bad - except that it ended with Javert throwing himself off the bridge in front of Valjean and Valjean walking away happy!

Unicron · April 1 2011, 03:18 AM

Turbo wrote:

Another note on the 25th Anniversary concert: it's very weird seeing Lea Salonga play Fantine; I'm so used to her as Eponine. But she does a fantastic job.

I thought that kind of looked like her, but I wasn't sure. I remember seeing an interview once where she mentioned being interested in taking up Fantine's role. But she does a great job with Eponine in the 10th Anniversary version.

CaptainCanada · April 1 2011, 03:24 AM

Unless it can't be scheduled, I imagine the studio will be hungry to have Lea Michele as Eponine in the film version.

Kestrel · April 1 2011, 03:39 AM

^ Ooh, good idea! She does a great Eponine.

Vanyel · April 1 2011, 08:48 AM

After hearing her sing in 2 Academy Award broadcasts, I'd like to see Anne Hathaway in it, either as Éponine or Cosette.

ClayinCA · April 1 2011, 08:26 PM

Anne Hathaway as Cosette and Lea Michele as Eponine...I could see that.

March 27 2011, 04:43 AM	#2
Kestrel Rear Admiral Location: East Tennessee	Re: "King's Speech" director to take on "Les Miserables" Hmm... good luck with it. The musical's three hours long and it barely covers the major parts of Hugo's book. And I wouldn't want them to cut anything out of it. Glad they're adapting the musical though. As good as Neeson and Rush were as Valjean and Javert respectively, the way that movie adaptation was structured (and ended!) was... not so good. __________________ "Does it ever get easy?" "You mean life?" "Yeah. Does it get easy?" "What do you want me to say?" "Lie to me."

March 30 2011, 10:25 AM	#3
DBR Vice Admiral Location: Yraglac, Atrebla	Re: "King's Speech" director to take on "Les Miserables" I haven't seen any of the earlier theatrical incarnations of Les Mis, but they have to get Alphie Boe: he's amazing as Val Jean! __________________ Did you ever wonder if the person in the puddle is real, and you're just a reflection of him?

March 30 2011, 06:19 PM	#4
CaptainCanada Admiral Location: Kingston, Ontario, Canada	Re: "King's Speech" director to take on "Les Miserables" The only real movie star I can think of who could handle the male lead roles would be Hugh Jackman, who I could see in either of the leads, but I think would be best as Javert. __________________ "I'm a white male, age 18 to 49. Everyone listens to me, no matter how dumb my suggestions are!" - Homer Simpson

March 31 2011, 02:50 AM	#6
Unicron Continuity Spackle Location: Seeking harmony	Re: "King's Speech" director to take on "Les Miserables" Yeah, I've seen Colm's performance in the 10th Anniversary version. I still consider that one of my favorite incarnations, as I think just about everyone in the cast was great. I saw some of the 25th Anniversary on TV recently, and while I'm sure those performers are well talented, it wasn't the same. __________________ "My dream is to eat candy and poop emeralds. I'm halfway successful." Catbert, Evil Director of Human Resources

March 31 2011, 07:45 PM	#7
ClayinCA Commodore Location: New New Jersey	Re: "King's Speech" director to take on "Les Miserables" Making a movie out of Les-Miserables-the-musical has been planned for so long that I can recall my college girlfriend and I speculating in horror that some wrongheaded executive would cast Kenny Rogers as Jean Valjean. (And if that doesn't tell you how long ago it was, I'll just point out that I'm in my forties now... )

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March 31 2011, 08:48 PM	#8
Turbo Vice Admiral Location: Atlanta	Re: "King's Speech" director to take on "Les Miserables" Another note on the 25th Anniversary concert: it's very weird seeing Lea Salonga play Fantine; I'm so used to her as Eponine. But she does a fantastic job. __________________ Odo: Your faith seems to have led you to something of a contradiction. Kira: I don't see it as a contradiction. Odo: I don't understand. Kira: That's the thing about faith. If you don't have it, you can't understand it and if you do, no explanation is necessary.

April 1 2011, 01:37 AM	#9
RandyS Vice Admiral Location: Randyland	Re: "King's Speech" director to take on "Les Miserables" There hasn't been a decent adaption since Orson Welles did it. Although the Liam Neeson movie wasn't so bad.

April 1 2011, 01:52 AM	#10
Kestrel Rear Admiral Location: East Tennessee	Re: "King's Speech" director to take on "Les Miserables" Wasn't so bad - except that it ended with Javert throwing himself off the bridge in front of Valjean and Valjean walking away happy! __________________ "Does it ever get easy?" "You mean life?" "Yeah. Does it get easy?" "What do you want me to say?" "Lie to me."

April 1 2011, 03:24 AM	#12
CaptainCanada Admiral Location: Kingston, Ontario, Canada	Re: "King's Speech" director to take on "Les Miserables" Unless it can't be scheduled, I imagine the studio will be hungry to have Lea Michele as Eponine in the film version. __________________ "I'm a white male, age 18 to 49. Everyone listens to me, no matter how dumb my suggestions are!" - Homer Simpson

April 1 2011, 03:39 AM	#13
Kestrel Rear Admiral Location: East Tennessee	Re: "King's Speech" director to take on "Les Miserables" ^ Ooh, good idea! She does a great Eponine. __________________ "Does it ever get easy?" "You mean life?" "Yeah. Does it get easy?" "What do you want me to say?" "Lie to me."

April 1 2011, 08:48 AM	#14
Vanyel The Imperious Leader Location: San Antonio, Texas	Re: "King's Speech" director to take on "Les Miserables" After hearing her sing in 2 Academy Award broadcasts, I'd like to see Anne Hathaway in it, either as Éponine or Cosette. __________________ Did I happen to mention, did I vow to disclose, this man we're seeking with a mole on his nose, I'm not sure of his clothes or anything else, except he's Chinese. A big clue by itself. --David Addison, Moonlighting

April 1 2011, 08:26 PM	#15
ClayinCA Commodore Location: New New Jersey	Re: "King's Speech" director to take on "Les Miserables" Anne Hathaway as Cosette and Lea Michele as Eponine...I could see that.