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flying_pigs

Les Mis Movie

I know there are already loads of topics but I can't be bothered to skim through all the pages.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-1220758/The-hot-ticket-starring-Keira-Knightley-thats-million.html

Scroll down to about half-way, discussions about Les Mis movie are taking place...again!
Eppie-Sue

I say Jason Segel for Valjean and Neil Patrick Harris for Javert.
Mr. Green

(I'll just copy the whole section for everyone:)
Quote:
The musical Les Miserables is now in its 25th year on the London stage, so One Day More, or rather one year more (or two), of waiting for a screen version won't hurt.

Cameron Mackintosh, the producer behind the Alain Boublil, Claude-Michel Schönberg and Herbert Kretzmer musical, has joined forces with the London-based film studio Working Title to bring the landmark show to the big screen.

It's early days, but Cameron and Eric Fellner, who runs WT with Tim Bevan, are signed up to making the picture together.

I gather one of the things that prompted them to converse was observing the whirlwind way Les Miserables hit the headlines when Susan Boyle sang the Act I song I Dreamed A Dream on Britain's Got Talent, which was viewed 85 million times on YouTube.

The stage production, at the Queen's Theatre on Shaftesbury Avenue, had been doing well anyway, but ticket sales soared - and studio chiefs saw how deep the public's affection for the show was.

The London production alone has made a profit of £30 million during its 24 years in London. If you invested £1 back then, you would have made £3,300.

Cameron and Fellner have spoken about potential directors; no one has been signed yet, but I understand a major name is in their sights.

The movie wouldn't go into production before 2011 or early 2012, because Cameron is busy with a string of stage shows, plus a new big-screen version of My Fair Lady (also looking for a director after the departure of Oscar-winner Danny Boyle), and WT have to see to other projects before Les Mis will be made.

Casting has not been discussed, but I've been thinking about the likes of Russell Crowe as Jean Valjean, the convict who conceals his identity and drives the story - and wouldn't it be great to get Hugh Jackman as Inspector Javert, the official who for years pursues prisoner 24601?

Cameron told me that there are 'endless casting possibilities for all the roles', but refused to discuss specific actors with me.

He did tell me, however, about a touring production which kicks off at the Millennium Centre, Cardiff, from December 12 with John Owen-Jones as Valjean and Gareth Gates as Marius. (Most of the shows are sold out already.)

The production - a new version based on the original but now directed by Laurence Connor and James Powell, and with new designs by Matt Kinley inspired by Victor Hugo's drawings and John Napier's original concept - will visit Manchester, Norwich, Birmingham, Edinburgh and Paris.

The show continues at the Queen's Theatre, London, where it will have its 25th anniversary celebrations next year.



Well. Part of me is excited for this, part of me is absolutely sure they will screw it up and a little voice inside my head is going: "What if they get Efron as Marius or John Travolta as Mme Thénardier?"

I'd rather have a filmed version of the stage production... speaking of which: Would they consider the stage performers for the roles, too, or would they strictly choose Hollywood names? I know that stage and screen are two different things, because the stage requires different acting than a close up in front of the camera does, but watching the show from BB so often has made me realise how much soft and subtle acting some put into their roles. And there are actors out there who also look the parts, especially in the female roles. I don't know. At least most of them can sing and know what to do with the characters.
lesmisloony

I can't think of anything to say about this that hasn't already been said millions of times...
The Very Angry Woman

lesmisloony wrote:
I can't think of anything to say about this that hasn't already been said millions of times...


Same here.

For the past 20 years.
Eppie-Sue

Well. Then it's a good thing there are people to the fandom who have not been active for the past twenty years and might be interested in discussing it, hm?! Wink
Mistress

I think Jackman would be better as Valjean, vocally at least. Visually, it's iffy, and I can totally see the Russel Crowe thing, but vocally, Jackman's a solid tenor (judging by his Curly at least, I apologize if I assumed too much about his vocal range too quickly), and better suited to Valjean, less so to Javert. I think Rickman could do Javert, but he'd need to train his voice quite a bit more before he could do it, I think.

If Glee becomes the massive hit it looks like it will, than Lea Michele has my vote for Eponine (don't kill me anyone XD)
The Very Angry Woman

Mistress wrote:
If Glee becomes the massive hit it looks like it will, than Lea Michele has my vote for Eponine (don't kill me anyone XD)


Well, I guess that means John Lloyd Young is out!
Yakko

Eppie-Sue wrote:
I say Jason Segel for Valjean and Neil Patrick Harris for Javert.
Mr. Green

.




When ever I watch that video I no longer fear death.
Eponines_Hat

Quote:
or would they strictly choose Hollywood names?


I reckon it would depend on how much money is getting thrown at it. Big names for big bucks

love the hugh jackman idea for JVJ. i bet he could do a good Thenadier, too.
RainbowJude

Ha ha ha

Baz Bamigboye has to be my least favourite theatre columnist - I'm reluctant to call him a journalist - ever. As for his choices for the leads - Russell Crowe as Jean Valjean and Hugh Jackman as Inspector Javert - well, I'm chuckling a little.

Later days
David
Ricey

Eppie-Sue wrote:
Part of me is excited for this, part of me is absolutely sure they will screw it up and a little voice inside my head is going: "What if they get Efron as Marius or John Travolta as Mme Thénardier?"

If Efron was Marius I would die from the horror. Even though quite a few people I know would love it (well, one person. No one agrees with her. Except her identical twin.) i would hate it. Now I have that horrible picture in my mind. Eww. Just, no offene to the guy, but it just wouldn't be right.
HannahM

Ricey wrote:
Eppie-Sue wrote:
Part of me is excited for this, part of me is absolutely sure they will screw it up and a little voice inside my head is going: "What if they get Efron as Marius or John Travolta as Mme Thénardier?"

If Efron was Marius I would die from the horror. Even though quite a few people I know would love it (well, one person. No one agrees with her. Except her identical twin.) i would hate it. Now I have that horrible picture in my mind. Eww. Just, no offene to the guy, but it just wouldn't be right.

Efron as Marius would be bad enough, but can you imagine him getting any of the other roles? Dear God, Efron as Enjolras anyone? Shocked
lottielou22

HannahM wrote:
Ricey wrote:
Eppie-Sue wrote:
Part of me is excited for this, part of me is absolutely sure they will screw it up and a little voice inside my head is going: "What if they get Efron as Marius or John Travolta as Mme Thénardier?"

If Efron was Marius I would die from the horror. Even though quite a few people I know would love it (well, one person. No one agrees with her. Except her identical twin.) i would hate it. Now I have that horrible picture in my mind. Eww. Just, no offene to the guy, but it just wouldn't be right.

Efron as Marius would be bad enough, but can you imagine him getting any of the other roles? Dear God, Efron as Enjolras anyone? Shocked


Aw, don't say that, he'd make a wonderful Cosette.
Eppie-Sue

HannahM wrote:
Efron as Marius would be bad enough, but can you imagine him getting any of the other roles? Dear God, Efron as Enjolras anyone? Shocked


O.O don't jinx it. What is he, 5'9"? good Lord. (I'd still take Efron!Marius over Miley Cyrus!Eponine or something. I would pay a lot to see Efron!Marius next to a Thaxtonesque Enjolras, though. That would be funny.)

Here are my thoughts on it (copied from LJ):
"I actually kind of like the idea of Emily Blunt as Fantine, maybe, and Ben Barnes as Marius. I want Johnny Depp as M Thénardier and PLEASE PLEASE Helena Bonham Carter as the Factory Bitch. Zooey Deschanel as Eponine? I don't know. Ewan McGregor will be 40 by the time production is supposed to start, is that old enough to play Valjean? I quite like his voice. I can't think of any actor good enough to play Javert, sadly. Alan Rickman would be awesome, and yes, he can hold a tune, but not in the Javert-sense. There is that girl Amanda Seyfried, who was in "Mamma Mia" and my initial reaction is NO NO NO, but I can just see them getting someone like her for Cosette. Scratch that, I YouTube'd her and she doesn't seem to have the range required for In My Life."
Ulkis

Ewan McGregor as Valjean would be odd. He's too . . . quirky, or something. To me, he always seems like a guy who's always gonna be ready with a smile. I don't know. I could maybe picture him as Thenardier. Johnny Depp is good for Thenardier too, although I can see him as Javert as well. And if he was younger he'd make a good Enjolras or to a lesser extent, Marius. Heh. Basically, Depp as any male part except Valjean. (Hell, dress him up as a woman, he could be Eponine too.)

Quote:
I'd still take Efron!Marius over Miley Cyrus!Eponine or something


Pretty sure that wouldn't happen. Miley Cyrus Eponine, that is. Efron Marius, maybe.

You know, if My Fair Lady is a success though, we could end up with Kiera Knightly Eponine. Although, she doesn't exactly come off as miserable guttersnipe to me (ok, so that's what Eliza Doolittle is but that's a comedy and Les Mis is not), so I think she would make a better Cosette but that part might be too small for her.

I don't think we'd get any super-famous Cosettes. It's such a small part!
HannahM

I'd quite like to see an unknown as Eponine. I don't think there's any way we'll get anything other than big names for Valjean and Javert but if there are too many "celebrities" it might detract from the story a bit. I suppose it would be too much to hope for for some of the west-end cast to reprise their roles...
Eppie-Sue

HannahM wrote:
I'd quite like to see an unknown as Eponine.


Oh yes, I can see them doing that, too... either for Eponine or for Cosette. You're right, of course, they can't go with big names for every role... (it could be like Ocean's 11. Mr. Green)

HannahM wrote:
I suppose it would be too much to hope for for some of the west-end cast to reprise their roles...

David Thaxton.
Sorry, I had to.
HannahM

Eppie-Sue wrote:

David Thaxton.
Sorry, I had to.

That may or may not be who I'm hoping for *shifty eyes*
Lauraa

HannahM wrote:
Eppie-Sue wrote:

David Thaxton.
Sorry, I had to.

That may or may not be who I'm hoping for *shifty eyes*


I think that is one of the few things that would make a Zac Efron Marius bearable...
eliasatsalome

i dont know why but i hate this idea. its like...the true essence of it goes away and what is seen on screen is only a pale imitation of what its like on stage, and what its like on stage is only the super-duper condensed version of the book
Jennifer Lynn

I'd love the idea of a LM movie, but they would have to tread carefully in casting. I can see the dilemma...they want to cast actors with a screen presence, but that can handle this material. It's the same dilemma they went through with the original My Fair Lady--they were reluctant to cast Rex Harrison because he didn't have quite as much of a big-screen name. They tried to cast Cary Grant, but Cary reportedly told them, "This role was made for Rex Harrison. If you don't cast him, not only will I not do the part, I will not work for Warner's again!"

So I think Hugh Jackman in some age makeup would be good for Valjean. (Even though, in an ideal world, it would be Hugh Panaro--for singing AND acting.) And for Javert...none other than Brian Stokes Mitchell. He's done enough screen roles to have a screen presence, and the voice, the voice, MY GOD THE VOICE. It even makes sense to have a darker-skinned Javert, since doesn't the Brick refer to him being of a "gypsy race"?

Now that you guys mention it, Ewan McGregor would be a good Thenardier! He has a good voice (and this role doesn't call for anything too operatic), and from his film experience, he's shown he can play the two sides of Thenardier--the grinning comic relief and the unpleasant, sinister predator crawling around in the sewers robbing corpses.

If they can cast a few roles with big-screen "names", they might be able to get away with casting more of the stage-type actors in other roles. They can raid the various productions for the best of them!
mezzo_soprano

LEA AS FANTINE!!! PLEEEAAASSEEEEE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Eppie-Sue

What. No. No please. For several reasons, one being that... Fantine is in her early twenties. Lea isn't. It's easy.

They should really have a mix of big names for the leads and maybe one or two other roles, and established recent stage performers and a few new talented faces for the rest. I really like that idea... but let's not become too optimistic here. *sigh*
mezzo_soprano

But Lea is awesome!

LOL Fangirl, me no.

Can I just say, better Lea than Efron or Cyrus as ANYTHING?

Oh wait. I've got it. Miley can be the whore on the left.
Muscialperformer92

If they would cast Efron as Marius (god forbid it!) I could see them also casting Vanessa Hudgens as Cosette and Ashley Tisdale as Epoinine haha Rolling Eyes just imagine them hitting the last harmony in AHFOL Rolling Eyes or even "better" Efron in ECAET and Tisdale in OMO.. NO!.. I don't want them to make this movie Crying or Very sad not another musical getting killed by hollywood like phantom.. Record the stage show- that would truly make me happy

I also don't really think it would work very well for the screen.. it's just too theatrical in a way..
Lauraa

Muscialperformer92 wrote:
NO!.. I don't want them to make this movie Crying or Very sad not another musical getting killed by hollywood like phantom..


I agree, I just can't see it working as a movie and I don't want it to be ruined Crying or Very sad And what with all of this Susan Boyle hype, I bet they will have her on there with a really small part or something.
Aaaaand if they make it a movie, they will have to cut out SO MUCH to make it a normal running time (I think most films are like an hour and a half aren't they?). Arghh, it just won't work.

Muscialperformer92 wrote:
Record the stage show- that would truly make me happy


Yes! With the best of all recent performers Very Happy
Ulkis

Quote:
Aaaaand if they make it a movie, they will have to cut out SO MUCH to make it a normal running time (I think most films are like an hour and a half aren't they?). Arghh, it just won't work.


Most movies now are at least 2 hours, unless it's a kids movie. And musicals have a tendency to run long - Phantom, Rent, Dreamgirls both the movies were about 2 hours and 20 minutes. I'm sure if they made Les Mis, it would at LEAST 2 hours and a half.
Eppie-Sue

Yes, I don't think running time would be a problem, really. I mean, the London production runs, I believe, 2h 35 mins now. And there ARE cuts in there (Sad) but it works just well.
Eponines_Hat

Quote:
I agree, I just can't see it working as a movie and I don't want it to be ruined Crying or Very sad And what with all of this Susan Boyle hype, I bet they will have her on there with a really small part or something.


What about the crazy woman who mutters to herself in "Look Down"?
Elbow

I want to be that woman.
AzelmaCombeferre9430

I actaully kind of want it to be made into a movie. I have never seen Les Mis, I've only read the book and have the OLC on my iPod (and listen to it like, everyday) and I live in the US so i won't be seeing it anytime soon.

Personally I'd prefer broadway and/or west end actors in the moive, but Hollywoods just gonna use hollywood names

Jean Valjean-Hugh Jackman-sorry I know a lot of people don't want him in it but he's got theatre exprience.
Javert-???
Marius-Jamie Campbell Bower- There's really not much difference between Marius and Anthony, being the lovesick tenor types...too bad he's now invovled in that Twilight trash (EW...)
Cosette-I'd love to see Anne Hathaway, but the role is too small for her. So it'll probably be played by some one like Emmy Rossum...
Eponine-Lea Michele? Maybe, i'm not sure. I think she'd create a new generation of Eppie/Marius shippers though.
Fantine-I'd love to see it played by Stephanie J Block for some reason, but that ain't gunna happen Crying or Very sad so it'll probably be Lea Salonga or Idina Menzel
Thenardiars-Johnny Depp and Helen Bonham Carter. Sorry, but when I was watching Sweeney Todd, it just reminded me of them. They're good at the sneaky evil gross types.
Enjolras-This is where I'm going to say DAVID THAXTON!!!!!!!!! But that won't happen. So really anyone but Zac Efron, Joe Jonas etc.

I think they should do it similar to Joseph, RENT, and Cats, film it live on stage, so then we could have the awesome London cast on *legal* film Mr. Green

Yeah, I know I spelt like everyone's name wrong. I can't spell for my life.
Elbow

Eww, not Jamie Campbell Bower, we do not need some disgustingly wet Marius.
Mistress

Still, Bower would probably be better than Efron-escept that Efron's voice actually sounds kinda sorta masculine. That's about all he has going for him. I second lea asEponine, only because she has the stage cred to pull it off (not to mention her playing the part at hollywood Bowl) and Glee has made her into a very plausible shose in terms of "big" names, excpet she's maybe more of medium name XD

Mitchell as Javert?-I'm in all the way! Same for Jackman as Javert.
Eanjolras is a toughy though...it would be hilarious to see Efron attempt it, especially with all the slash jokes that would follow...Laughing
Ulkis

Quote:
Thenardiars-Johnny Depp and Helen Bonham Carter. Sorry, but when I was watching Sweeney Todd, it just reminded me of them. They're good at the sneaky evil gross types.


If they ever use Carter in a musical again, she needs to be dubbed. She couldn't sing, at all.
Elbow

And Johnny Depp is far too good looking for Thenardier. They need someone like Timothy Spall.

I can sort of see Helena Bonham Carter as Madame, but I agree about her voice. She's also a very pretty woman, I think they should pick someone not quite so stunning.
AzelmaCombeferre9430

Mistress wrote:

Eanjolras is a toughy though...it would be hilarious to see Efron attempt it, especially with all the slash jokes that would follow...Laughing


LOL. That would be hiralous.
But I don't R would would be stupid enough to love that thing...
Eppie-Sue

AzelmaCombeferre9430 wrote:
Mistress wrote:

Eanjolras is a toughy though...it would be hilarious to see Efron attempt it, especially with all the slash jokes that would follow...Laughing


LOL. That would be hiralous.
But I don't R would would be stupid enough to love that thing...

... okay. As much as I don't want to see Efron in Les Mis... "that thing"?!
Totally out of place.


I'm really partial about the idea of Hollywood names who can sing just alright attempting to take on the Les Mis score. There is a slight difference between what most consider "singing" and actually being able to carry a song like "Stars" or "I dreamed a dream". Most "singing actors" would only qualify for pop musicals. Also, I can't think of any Hollywood name to play Enjolras. Really, really.
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