Les Miserables (Film Musical)

[Petra_Kalbrain]

So... looks like they are finally going to do it!

http://www.gossipcop.com/les-miserab...ljean-musical/

http://www.guardian.co.uk/film/2011/...les-miserables

So... the cast so far...

Valjean - Hugh Jackman
Javert - Russell Crowe
Fantine - Anne Hathaway
Madame Thenardier - Helena Bonham Carter (rumoured)
?Thenardier? - Geoffrey Rush (rumoured)

[EricJ]

Originally Posted by Petra_Kalbrain

So... looks like they are finally going to do it!
So... the cast so far...

Valjean - Hugh Jackman
Javert - Russell Crowe
Fantine - Anne Hathaway
Madame Thenardier - Helena Bonham Carter (rumoured)
?Thenardier? - Geoffrey Rush (rumoured)

Wouldn't about Jackman--He's got a GREAT musical style (if you didn't see him at the Tonys or the Oscars, think you can catch his Oklahoma on disk), he's right for the role and the voice, and after the next Wolverine movie, I'm sure he would love to get away from his one well-beaten gig.

Too bad it's the Guardian--known for loopy fake-rumors--and the cast sounds like fanboy cast-urbation (wow, they're ALL recognizable triple-A-list stars, no new unknown discoveries off the stage production at all! ) Even the default mention of Russell Crowe sounds believable, and madwoman-typecast HBC, unfortunately, sounds too believable.
But, maybe it'll give the real producers ideas to get it started. Oh, wait, that sounds like the reason they made the fakie rumor in the first place, but then we need this movie...How else are they going to kill off the stage version in NY?

[Neo_3]

All those are confirmed or highly possible for the roles. Emma Watson is there also.

[Petra_Kalbrain]

Originally Posted by EricJ

Wouldn't about Jackman--He's got a GREAT musical style (if you didn't see him at the Tonys or the Oscars, think you can catch his Oklahoma on disk), he's right for the role and the voice, and after the next Wolverine movie, I'm sure he would love to get away from his one well-beaten gig.

Too bad it's the Guardian--known for loopy fake-rumors--and the cast sounds like fanboy cast-urbation (wow, they're ALL recognizable triple-A-list stars, no new unknown discoveries off the stage production at all! ) Even the default mention of Russell Crowe sounds believable, and madwoman-typecast HBC, unfortunately, sounds too believable.
But, maybe it'll give the real producers ideas to get it started. Oh, wait, that sounds like the reason they made the fakie rumor in the first place, but then we need this movie...How else are they going to kill off the stage version in NY?

I know Jackman has A voice. He is quite talented. I just don't believe he'd be a good Valjean. I could see him as more the Javert character.

As for Crowe? I just can't see his deadpan as being in anyway suitable for powerful and potent content as Les Mis.

All others are definitely rumours and I can live with the fun of speculation inherent within. At least it gives us hope that it is, in fact, on track for production.

[EricJ]

Originally Posted by Petra_Kalbrain

I know Jackman has A voice. He is quite talented. I just don't believe he'd be a good Valjean. I could see him as more the Javert character.

As for Crowe? I just can't see his deadpan as being in anyway suitable for powerful and potent content as Les Mis.

When I saw Geoffrey Rush, I thought, "Oh, HE'S playing Javert...No, wait, I'm thinking of the Liam Neeson movie version."
The fact that we haven't seen him in a musical yet raised my suspicions.

[Darth Anakin]

Amanda Seyfried is in final negotiations to join the high-profile cast of Universal and Working Title's big-screen musical adaptation of Les Miserables.

Tom Hooper (The King’s Speech) is directing the movie, whose cast includes Hugh Jackman as convicted bread stealer Jean Valjean and Russell Crowe as Inspector Javert. Anne Hathaway and Eddie Redmayne are also confirmed for the roll call.

PHOTOS: 'In Time' Premiere Red Carpet

Seyfried will play Cosette, who comes under the guardianship of Valjean.

William Nicholson wrote the script and the movie will use Claude-Michel Schoenberg's score from the popular musical, which is based on the Victor Hugo book.

Seyfried last appeared starred in In Time and is currently shooting Lovelace, in which she stars as porn icon Linda Lovelace.

Source - http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/new...erables-278057
Amanda Seyfried and Anne Hathaway?

[in2video2]

Claude-Michel Schoenberg's musical Les Miserables promises to be something very special. Quite a fine and talented cast has been assembled. His Miss Saigon is also "in the works" - looks like we may have a resurgence of interest in the musical genre. I wouldn't mind. It's a genre that's been long overdue for a comeback. Rock of Ages, another musical with Broadway roots, is due out this summer and has attracted many big names, too. If all these movies have quality stamped all over them we just may hopefully see a growing trend here.

[EricJ]

Originally Posted by in2video2

Claude-Michel Schoenberg's musical Les Miserables promises to be something very special. Quite a fine and talented cast has been assembled. His Miss Saigon is also "in the works" - looks like we may have a resurgence in the musical genre. I wouldn't mind. It's a genre that's been long overdue for a comeback.

...A "comeback" from 2005?
I can appreciate that the "Hairspray" and "Mamma Mia" movies were a bit too demographic, the "Rent" movie was mis-sold, "Dreamgirls" and "Sweeney Todd" weren't sold at all, and the "Producers" and "Phantom" movies were mishandled disasters, but we're not talking "Moulin Rouge 'saved' the genre", here.

Usually, theater corporations and unions don't want movie musicals to be made unless it "won't hurt" the existing production (like doing the Producers movie after Lane & Broderick had already left), or unless they want to start the quick euthanasia process of killing the stage production off for good. (Once out-of-town tourists can see the show at home, why would they get on the buses to see it?--That's what killed vaudeville, after all.)
And with "Beauty & the Beast" and "Cats" finally retired, Les Mis is the next geriatric 80's/90's-musical tourist attraction NY stage folk would like to finally see darkened, and nobody wants Miss Saigon to come back. Phantom already had its movie, and so, in a way, did Lion King.

[in2video2]

Grammy winner Taylor Swift has been offered the coveted role of Eponine in Tom Hooper’s film adaptation of Les Miserables, according to Twitchfilm.com. Mamma Mia! actress Amanda Seyfried has also been offered the role of Cosette. Taylor Swift and Amanda Seyfried are joining the previously announced Hugh Jackman as Jean Valjean, Russell Crowe as Inspector Javert, Anne Hathaway as Fantine, Eddie Redmayne as Marius, Aaron Tveit as Enjolras and Sacha Baron Cohen and Helena Bonham Carter as the Thénardiers. The film begins production in February 2012.

[in2video2]

Originally Posted by EricJ

...A "comeback" from 2005?
I can appreciate that the "Hairspray" movie was a bit too demographic, the "Rent" movie was mis-sold, "Dreamgirls" and "Sweeney Todd" weren't sold at all, and the "Producers" and "Phantom" movies were mishandled disasters, but we're not talking "Moulin Rouge 'saved' the genre", here.

Usually, theater corporations and unions don't want movie musicals to be made unless it "won't hurt" the existing production (like doing the Producers movie after Lane & Broderick had already left), or unless they want to start the quick euthanasia process of killing the stage production off for good. (Once out-of-town tourists can see the show at home, why would they get on the buses to see it?--That's what killed vaudeville, after all.)
And with "Beauty & the Beast" and "Cats" finally retired, Les Mis is the next geriatric 80's/90's-musical tourist attraction NY stage folk would like to finally see darkened, and nobody wants Miss Saigon to come back. Phantom already had its movie, and so, in a way, did Lion King.

I am pleased to see a developing interest in seeing any Broadway musical brought to the screen. A great many are overlooked for various reasons, or delayed for the very good reasons you have already mentioned. Many of these projects take many years to set up and many just simply fall through and never get produced or get picked up decades later e.g. Finian's Rainbow and Paint Your Wagon with varying degrees of success. I am curious to see how far this new interest in anything "Musical" will take us. For my part it would only be wishful thinking to hope the Musical genre might return with a higher than expected profile. I wish Les Miserables, Miss Saigon and Rock of Ages all become critical and commercial success stories. It may bring a great many unproduced musicals out of the doldrums.

[Trekkie313]

Rock Of Ages looks mediocre to terrible...being a huge 80's fan it almost makes my blood boil.

[in2video2]

Originally Posted by Trekkie313

Rock Of Ages looks mediocre to terrible...being a huge 80's fan it almost makes my blood boil.

I'm not at all familiar with the original stage musical it belongs to but I thought the Rock of Ages movie trailer looked interesting. Cannot really tell if it will meet our expectations but I'm at least willing to wish it well. I am always encouraged (sometimes worried) when we see big names in the cast whom we are unaccustomed to expecting to appear in a musical. It will be interesting to keep an eye on.

[JenM]

Originally Posted by EricJ

...A "comeback" from 2005?
I can appreciate that the "Hairspray" and "Mamma Mia" movies were a bit too demographic, the "Rent" movie was mis-sold, "Dreamgirls" and "Sweeney Todd" weren't sold at all, and the "Producers" and "Phantom" movies were mishandled disasters, but we're not talking "Moulin Rouge 'saved' the genre", here.

Usually, theater corporations and unions don't want movie musicals to be made unless it "won't hurt" the existing production (like doing the Producers movie after Lane & Broderick had already left), or unless they want to start the quick euthanasia process of killing the stage production off for good. (Once out-of-town tourists can see the show at home, why would they get on the buses to see it?--That's what killed vaudeville, after all.)
And with "Beauty & the Beast" and "Cats" finally retired, Les Mis is the next geriatric 80's/90's-musical tourist attraction NY stage folk would like to finally see darkened, and nobody wants Miss Saigon to come back. Phantom already had its movie, and so, in a way, did Lion King.

You are aware that Les Mis closed on Broadway in 2003, right? It was revived in 2006 and ran for a little over a year, but it's been 4 years that since that showed has played on Broadway. It's been "darkened" for quite some time now.

[Dubstar]

Originally Posted by Trekkie313

Rock Of Ages looks mediocre to terrible...being a huge 80's fan it almost makes my blood boil.

but it's directed by the director of the film version of 'Hairspray' and he made it work.

[Dubstar]

Originally Posted by in2video2

Claude-Michel Schoenberg's musical Les Miserables promises to be something very special. Quite a fine and talented cast has been assembled. His Miss Saigon is also "in the works" - looks like we may have a resurgence of interest in the musical genre. I wouldn't mind. It's a genre that's been long overdue for a comeback. Rock of Ages, another musical with Broadway roots, is due out this summer and has attracted many big names, too. If all these movies have quality stamped all over them we just may hopefully see a growing trend here.

I love Les Mis, but I much more like to see a film version of Miss Saigon

maybe Cameron Mackintosh can can get his filmmakers, sound design team, to bring back five front channel sound, in the grand tradition of the musicals of the 1960's

[in2video2]

Originally Posted by Dubstar

I love Les Mis, but I much more like to see a film version of Miss Saigon

maybe Cameron Mackintosh can can get his filmmakers, sound design team, to bring back five front channel sound, in the grand tradition of the musicals of the 1960's

Now that would be grand.

[EricJ]

Originally Posted by JenM

You are aware that Les Mis closed on Broadway in 2003, right?

Really?...So, they were able to find the last Horcrux and kill it, then?

[JenM]

Originally Posted by EricJ

Really?...So, they were able to find the last Horcrux and kill it, then?

Yes, welcome to almost 10 years ago.

Les Miserables announced its closing date in late 2002 for March 2003. Ticket sales jumped due to people wanting to see the show before it closed that it wound up extending to May 2003, when it officially closed.

It was revived on Broadway in the fall of 2006 - it was basically a production of the touring version, with some cuts and changes to the libretto. That was originally planned to be a limited run (I think about 3 months), and it wound up staying for more than a year.

It also returned just outside of NYC last year when another touring production played at Papermill Playhouse in NJ, which I believe is still touring the US now.

I'm not sure where you're getting this theory that NYers think it's a tourist trap and wanted it gone. I'm sure people who hated it wanted it gone, but it's actually one of the longest running shows in Broadway history (and a 1987 Tony winner for Best Musical), and the theater community certainly loves shows that stay full and keep people employed as long as possible, so no one would make a movie version just for the purposes of "killing" the stage version.

Also, a movie version WAS planned back in the early 90s, when the show was in it's heyday on Broadway. I have a program from the Broadway production that actually had this ad on the back page:



For the record: Cats closed in 2000. Sounds like you're a little behind on when that "finally retired too.

[Dubstar]

an Alan Parker film?! oh that would have been sweet!

[lobo81865]

Originally Posted by EricJ

...A "comeback" from 2005?
I can appreciate that the "Hairspray" and "Mamma Mia" movies were a bit too demographic, the "Rent" movie was mis-sold, "Dreamgirls" and "Sweeney Todd" weren't sold at all, and the "Producers" and "Phantom" movies were mishandled disasters, but we're not talking "Moulin Rouge 'saved' the genre", here.

Usually, theater corporations and unions don't want movie musicals to be made unless it "won't hurt" the existing production (like doing the Producers movie after Lane & Broderick had already left), or unless they want to start the quick euthanasia process of killing the stage production off for good. (Once out-of-town tourists can see the show at home, why would they get on the buses to see it?--That's what killed vaudeville, after all.)
And with "Beauty & the Beast" and "Cats" finally retired, Les Mis is the next geriatric 80's/90's-musical tourist attraction NY stage folk would like to finally see darkened, and nobody wants Miss Saigon to come back. Phantom already had its movie, and so, in a way, did Lion King.

Funny that you think people would want to see Les Miserables darkened. I'll bet more than a million people worldwide would disagree with you. How much do you want to bet that it and Miss Saigon would be rousing successes if they were revived? As for the potential Les Mis. musical movie, they should be more focused on putting the 10th Anniversary Concert on Blu.