Acclaimed French revolutionary musical LES MISERABLES is set to be turned into a blockbuster movie.
The theatrical production, written by CLAUDE-MICHEL SCHONBERG and ALAIN BOUBIL, was voted the UK's favourite musical earlier this year (05) and movie insiders are already predicting the film version will be a huge box-office success.
But show producer CAMERON MACKINTOSH is refusing to let the musical sell-out with a popular Hollywood director, and is instead searching for a movie-maker who appreciates the musical genre.
He says, "In the last six to nine months there has been renewed interest in the idea of a film adaptation and several big players want to be involved.
"That doesn't necessarily mean we are going to hand the project over to a big name director.
"We want someone who has a vision for the show that will put the show's original team, including me, back to work.
"We don't just want an adaptation. We want a film audiences will find as fresh as the actual show."
While I would be interested in seeing a movie of Les Miserables, the only two sources I see for this story are contactmusic and The Telegraph (the same people who wrote the story about Ewan and Glenn in the Sunset Boulevard movie) so until I see it somewhere else, I won't hold my breath.
"The gods who nurse this universe think little of mortals' cares. They sit in crowds on exclusive clouds and laugh at our love affairs. I might have had a real romance if they'd given me a chance. I loved him, but he didn't love me. I wanted him, but he didn't want me. Then the gods had a spree and indulged in another whim. Now he loves me, but I don't love him." - Cole Porter
...I think that the more recent film version with Liam Neeson is as fabulous as it will get. I am a huge fan of the musical, but to be truthful, I think it should just be left as a musical for the stage. Just because it is one of the most popular musicals in the world, I don't think that means...."OOO, MAKE A MOVIE OUT OF IT"....Les Miserables has held its own ground as a musical for a long time, and I honestly don't know how well it would do; just because it's a hit musical doesn't mean it will be a box office hit as a movie. Either way however, I love the music and will gladly support the show in any form!
See Ya!
Phantom05
------- "We Drink Your Blood And Then We Eat Your Soul, Nothings Gonna Stop Us Let The Bad Times Roll"
-------"Past The Point Of No Return, No Backward Glances, Abandon Thought And Let The Dream Begin"
The film version with Liam Neeson was OK at best. There was an ASTONISHING amount of story left out (and I've read the book twice -- I know what I'm talking about). I mean, hell, there's another couple hundred pages of story after Javert JUMPS OFF A BRIDGE (not whatever lame thing they had in that movie that I washed out of my head) that was completely ignored!
It is time for the movie musical! Plus, even if it will get made starting here, we have another couple of years at least before the thing would actually get done.
This made my day!! I'd LOVE to see this on film. Is Colm Wilkinson too old? Is there anyone who can really measure up to his performance? It's perfect for this day and age, too.
I've been waiting for this to come to the screen. It seems like it's only a matter of time.
"You just can't win. Ever. Look at the bright side, at least you are not stuck in First Wives Club: The Musical. That would really suck. "
--Sueleen Gay
Mackintosh says he wants an unconvential director who will think outside the box and make the project fresh. But I suspect that those types of directors won't want him hovering over them.
If it's true, I'm SO there. My first musical love!
"Oh, good. After all, I can rub my stomach and pat my head at the same time, and I can do it with my eyes closed while whistling 'The Entertainer.' That's rhythm for you."
~ Snaps, proving that White Boys CAN have rhythm
It's pretty much a given that there are probably going to be celebrities in it if they make a movie. They could probably get lesser known people in some roles, but several of them would have to be at least relatively well known actors.
I'm a whore for this sort of thing, so I'll say who I think some possible decent choices are as far as known actors go (not quite sure of the extent of the vocal talent of some of the people):
-Valjean: Russell Crowe / John Travolta / Treat Williams / Hugh Jackman -Fantine: Melinda Clarke / Catherine Zeta-Jones / Nicole Kidman / Kate Winslet / Milla Jovovich / Mira Sorvino / Toni Collette / Gwyneth Paltrow / Jennifer Garner -Javert: Tim Curry / Kevin Spacey / Anthony Stewart Head / Antonio Banderas / Jeremy Irons / Ciaran Hinds / Jonathan Pryce / Kevin Kline / Tom Hulce / Peter Gallagher / Chris Sarandon / John Lithgow -Young Cosette: Don't know -Cosette: Erika Christensen / Lauren Ambrose / Scarlett Johannsen / Brittany Murphy / Lindsey Haun / Hayley Westenra -Eponine: Anne Hathaway / Zooey Deschanel / Eden Riegel / Lacey Chabert / Nadia Bjorlin / Jenna Leigh Green / Jamie Lyn Sigler / Mandy Moore (You can smack me, I don't care :-P) -Marius: Heath Ledger / Ewan McGregor / Mike Vogel / Ryan Gosling -Enjolras: Adam Pascal (Well, he will be known soon hopefully) -Madame Thenardier: Kathy Bates / Tracy Ullman / Kathy Najimy / Karen Black / Megan Mullally / Catherine O'Hara / Beverly D'Angelo / Meryl Streep -Master Thenardier: Geoffrey Rush / John C. Reilly -Gavroche: Don't know
"The gods who nurse this universe think little of mortals' cares. They sit in crowds on exclusive clouds and laugh at our love affairs. I might have had a real romance if they'd given me a chance. I loved him, but he didn't love me. I wanted him, but he didn't want me. Then the gods had a spree and indulged in another whim. Now he loves me, but I don't love him." - Cole Porter
MrMidwest---Love your pool of choices. I think you're right. If they're going to take chances on the director and the overall film concept, they'll want some big names to guarantee box office. Unless MacKintosh puts up his own money, and then he'll cast whoever he wants. But if a studio is financing it, they'll get too jittery without names attached.
"Jaws is the Citizen Kane of movies."
blocked: logan2, Diamonds3, Hamilton22
C'mon, that's an easy one.... Dakota Fanning. She is in every movie made these days.
Enjolras: Patrick Wilson. I would die to see that.
"You just can't win. Ever. Look at the bright side, at least you are not stuck in First Wives Club: The Musical. That would really suck. "
--Sueleen Gay
Yeah, I suppose there's Dakota. Just hadn't heard anything about her singing talent, although I wouldn't be surprised if she can.
Raquel Castro from Jersey Girl might be a good young Cosette too.
"The gods who nurse this universe think little of mortals' cares. They sit in crowds on exclusive clouds and laugh at our love affairs. I might have had a real romance if they'd given me a chance. I loved him, but he didn't love me. I wanted him, but he didn't want me. Then the gods had a spree and indulged in another whim. Now he loves me, but I don't love him." - Cole Porter
I just hope that if it is produced as a "movie-musical", that they make sure to keep it artistically sound. They don't need to cast incredibly "big name" stars, the show already is one! I am definitely more for a cast of unknowns, over something similiar to what happened to Phantom of the Opera's film version!
....I would love it if they would use some performers who have actually portrayed these charcters whether on Broadway or West End!
....It would be exciting to see Les Miserables on the big screen....And to have another recording of that score would be fabulous!
See Ya!
Phantom05
------- "We Drink Your Blood And Then We Eat Your Soul, Nothings Gonna Stop Us Let The Bad Times Roll"
-------"Past The Point Of No Return, No Backward Glances, Abandon Thought And Let The Dream Begin"