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

Discussion in 'TV & Media' started by CaptainCanada, Mar 27, 2011.

  1. CaptainCanada

    CaptainCanada Admiral Admiral

    Joined:
    Mar 4, 2004
    Location:
    Charlottetown, PEI, Canada
    The Guardian:
    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.
     
  2. Thestral

    Thestral Vice Admiral Admiral

    Joined:
    Apr 9, 2009
    Location:
    East Tennessee
    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.
     
  3. DBR

    DBR Vice Admiral Admiral

    Joined:
    Feb 12, 2003
    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!
     
  4. CaptainCanada

    CaptainCanada Admiral Admiral

    Joined:
    Mar 4, 2004
    Location:
    Charlottetown, PEI, Canada
    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.
     
  5. Turbo

    Turbo Changeling Premium Member

    Joined:
    Jun 1, 2004
    Location:
    Florida
    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.
     
  6. Unicron

    Unicron Boss Monster Mod Moderator

    Joined:
    May 8, 2003
    Location:
    The Crown of the Moon
    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.
     
  7. ClayinCA

    ClayinCA Commodore Commodore

    Joined:
    Nov 3, 2005
    Location:
    California
    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... :p)
     
  8. Turbo

    Turbo Changeling Premium Member

    Joined:
    Jun 1, 2004
    Location:
    Florida
    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.
     
  9. RandyS

    RandyS Vice Admiral Admiral

    Joined:
    Nov 9, 2007
    Location:
    Randyland
    There hasn't been a decent adaption since Orson Welles did it.

    Although the Liam Neeson movie wasn't so bad.
     
  10. Thestral

    Thestral Vice Admiral Admiral

    Joined:
    Apr 9, 2009
    Location:
    East Tennessee
    Wasn't so bad - except that it ended with Javert throwing himself off the bridge in front of Valjean and Valjean walking away happy! :brickwall:
     
  11. Unicron

    Unicron Boss Monster Mod Moderator

    Joined:
    May 8, 2003
    Location:
    The Crown of the Moon
    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.
     
  12. CaptainCanada

    CaptainCanada Admiral Admiral

    Joined:
    Mar 4, 2004
    Location:
    Charlottetown, PEI, Canada
    Unless it can't be scheduled, I imagine the studio will be hungry to have Lea Michele as Eponine in the film version.
     
  13. Thestral

    Thestral Vice Admiral Admiral

    Joined:
    Apr 9, 2009
    Location:
    East Tennessee
    ^ Ooh, good idea! She does a great Eponine.
     
  14. Vanyel

    Vanyel The Imperious Leader Premium Member

    Joined:
    Apr 23, 2001
    Location:
    San Antonio, Texas
    After hearing her sing in 2 Academy Award broadcasts, I'd like to see Anne Hathaway in it, either as Éponine or Cosette.
     
  15. ClayinCA

    ClayinCA Commodore Commodore

    Joined:
    Nov 3, 2005
    Location:
    California
    Anne Hathaway as Cosette and Lea Michele as Eponine...I could see that.
     
  16. Thestral

    Thestral Vice Admiral Admiral

    Joined:
    Apr 9, 2009
    Location:
    East Tennessee
    That sounds good indeed. Would make me give a shit about Cosette too. And Hugh Jackman as Javert? Perhaps not old enough. Oh! Hugh Jackman as Marius?
     
  17. Vanyel

    Vanyel The Imperious Leader Premium Member

    Joined:
    Apr 23, 2001
    Location:
    San Antonio, Texas
    Ya'know, having Lea Michele play Éponine, might cut into her time on Glee, which wouldn't be a bad thing. It'd give other characters time to develop. Mike Chang, Blaine and Sam are being becoming full cast members, it'll give them more chances to shine. Also, according to the series creator, cast member are going to leave as the graduate, so Lea may be playing Rachael until the end of next season. Better stop now before I really derail this topic.
     
  18. Vanyel

    Vanyel The Imperious Leader Premium Member

    Joined:
    Apr 23, 2001
    Location:
    San Antonio, Texas
    What is Hugh's vocal range? To stay true to the musical, he needs to be either a Bass-Baritone or a Baritone, to play Javert; and a tenor (specifically a dramatic tenor) to play Valjean. I think he'd be much too old to play Marius.

    Marius would need to be much younger, stage allows for older actors to play younger character due to distances involved in seeing them (or so I've been told). Hugh could easily pass for a man in his early 30's, not late teens or early 20's. Marius could be played by Zac Efron ( :ack: ). But please NOT Nick Jonas :barf:, I saw the 25 Anniversary Concert and wanted to jam ice picks in my ears when he sang. Thankfully Michael Ball came out and the end and showed gave an actual performance.
     
  19. CaptainCanada

    CaptainCanada Admiral Admiral

    Joined:
    Mar 4, 2004
    Location:
    Charlottetown, PEI, Canada
    Yeah, he's too old to be Marius. I don't think Javert or Valjean would be a problem, visually; he's mid-40s, and the character runs the gamut from a youngish man to a man fairly advanced in years over the course of the show.

    I don't know the technical term, but having heard him sing a few times, I don't think he'd have a problem with either part.

    Hathaway seems a little old to be Cosette by now, but I could see it working okay.
     
  20. Vanyel

    Vanyel The Imperious Leader Premium Member

    Joined:
    Apr 23, 2001
    Location:
    San Antonio, Texas
    Sorry to resurrect this thread (Well it is 9 days to Easter so maybe it is a good time.) but I was listening to John Barrowman on Youtube, and I thought he is funny (I love his Captain Jack) and thought he could be a good Thénardier. Granted, he is too pretty for the part, as it is generally portrayed, but I think he could do it. Hugh as Valjean, Lea Michele as Éponine, Anne Hathaway as Cossette and the rest of the cast rounded out by Broadway/West End vets.