Colm Wilkinson, Frances Ruffelle Join LES MIS Movie!

Les Misérables originally opened in London at the Barbican Theatre on 8 October 1985, transferred to the Palace Theatre on 4 December 1985 and moved to its current home at the Queen's Theatre on 3 April 2004. When the show made its London debut, it featured Colm Wilkinson as Jean Valjean and Frances Ruffelle as Eponine. 

This year, when the highly anticipated movie version of LES MIS opens in theaters - currently scheduled for December 7, 2012 - Wilkinson and Ruffelle will again be a part of it, though this time their original roles will be played by Hugh Jackman and Taylor Swift respectively.

Wilkinson, who says that appearing in the movie will bring his LES MIS journey "full circle," will play the Bishop of Digne while Ruffelle will play "the most fabulous whore" in the number "Lovely Ladies," producer Cameron Mackintosh told The Daily Mail's Baz Bamigboye today.

As production continues, more West End stars are expected to join the film. "It’s the same as when the musical Oliver! was being made and dozens — probably hundreds — of people from London stage shows took part," Mackintosh says.

When LES MISÉRABLES celebrated its 21st London birthday on 8 October 2006, it became the World's Longest Running Musical, surpassing the record previously held by "Cats" in London's West End. In January 2010, the West End production broke another record by celebrating its historic 10,000th performance.

All stars will reportedly sing live on film; Tom Hooper is at the helm and the movie also features Russell Crowe as Javert, Sacha Baron Cohen as Thernardier, Eddie Redmayne as Marius, Aaron Tveit as Enjolras, Anne Hathaway as Fantine, Amanda Seyfried as Cosette and Helena Bonham Carter as Madame Thenardier.

Photo Credit: Joan Marcus

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