Posted on 03/25/2011 8:55:45 AM PDT by Artemis Webb
Les Mis is back! Deadline reports that Universal has won the bidding war to develop a "full-blown musical adaptation" of Les Miserables, based on Victor Hugo's seminal classic published in 1862, with Oscar winning British director Tom Hooper of The King's Speech looking to direct. While anything could happen with the director over these next few months, since he is getting offers left and right now, Deadline states "this is the first film he's begun negotiations on since winning the Oscar" but were told "it would definitively be his next film." From King's Speech to Les Mis!
Cameron Mackintosh, who brought Les Miserables to the stage in 1985 as the extremely popular musical, is producing this with Working Title partners Tim Bevan & Eric Fellner.
(Excerpt) Read more at firstshowing.net ...
Philip Quast - best Javert ever!
All I know is that if they cast Nick Jonas as Marius I’m going to puke.
Yep, he was pathetic.
Les Miserables...wonderful story of grace and law.
Les Miserables, the musical...some of my favorite music from a Broadway play.
We’ve watched the 25th anniversary dvd about 5 times. Lea
Salonga as Fantine is marvelous.We’re going to see her in
concert in June. Alfie Boe as Jean Valjean has to be
heard to be believed how amazing he is. Also, Matt Lucas
as Thenardier is excellent.Both of them will be on stage
this June thru Nov. in London. We’re thinking of going to
London to see them preform.
I actually liked the 10th Anniversary Version better...except for Alfie Boe. Oh my goodness...what a voice.
In the 10th Anniversary Dream Cast production, Lea Salonga played Eponine, and I thought she fit that part well. Of course everybody ages, and I guess she was too old to play that part in the 25th, thus the Fantine character was hers.
I liked the 10th anniversary Thenardier.However,Matt Lucas
is growing on me.The end of the dvd they bring out four
Jean Valjeans and the the orginial cast except for Patti Lapone.
ITA. Nick Jonas is no Michael Ball either. He looked like he was in pain most of the time.
Meh. Marius is a whiny putz anyway. He and Cosette are ironically the least interesting characters in the musical.
Why would it need a fresh new take? The music is amazing and the story timeless. The only change I'd like to see is to fill in a few of the "story" gaps toward the end that can make it a bit confusing for those who haven't read the novel.
I kind of hope that split the Valjean part. someone like Boe for the first part of the play, but Colin Wilkerson for the last act - he still can sing. Given the aging of the character during the play I think it would make sense. It will help put folks in the seats. Perhaps limit him to the “Death” scene if necessary.
That’s a great idea. I’ve always been amused that Cosette ages, but Valjean and Javert stay the same through the whole play.
I’m really concerned that they’ll cast stars instead of voices. Time will tell, if Cameron Mackintosh maintains a lot of creative control then I’ll worry a lot less.
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