Hugh Jackman has revealed additional details about the upcoming LES MIS film: his plans during the filming, to who won't be appearing in the movie, live versus recorded singing for the project, and more.
Jackman recently spoke to The Daily Mail's Baz Bamigboye, and he divulged that the film will rehearse in January and February, and begin filming in March. Prior to this, Jackman will return to Broadway in his solo concert show, which opens on Broadway in October.
He also confirmed that, as previously reported, Anne Hathaway is set to play Fantine with Russell Crowe as Inspector Javert; Helena Bonham Carter, who was rumored to take on Mme. Thernardier, is still in negotiations. Her fellow 'Harry Potter' actress, Emma Watson, is not associated with the film and won't be appearing in it, despite reports that she was in talks to play Cosette.
"There's the option of recording live or lip-synching," Jackman added, "And I've been down the lip-synching route with the video of Oklahoma! I think singing live might work better with this, but Tom [Hooper] won't make a decision just yet."
The actor brings a combination of stage and film experience to LES MIS; he won a 2004 Tony Award, Drama Desk, Drama League, Outer Critics Circle and Theatre World awards for Best Actor in a musical for his portrayal of the 1970s singer-songwriter Peter Allen in The Boy From Oz. Jackman made his first major U.S. film appearance as Wolverine in the first installment of the X-Men franchise, a role he reprised in the enormously successful X2 and 2006's X-Men: The Last Stand.
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 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.
Cameron Mackintosh is currently developing the film of LES MISÉRABLES with Working Title and Universal. Tom Hooper ('The King's Speech') is set to direct.
