LES MIS Movie to Start Filming in London in February; Javert Update

The upcoming film version of LES MISERABLES has taken further steps to the big screen: according to The Daily Mail, the film has scheduled shooting for February in the UK.

While there is word that Paul Bettany and Russell Crowe are being considered as Inspector Javert, the only casting confirmed thus far is stage and screen star Hugh Jackman. He'll be playing the central character Jean Valjean and in between filming, Jackman will also perform in a series of concerts in London.

He spoke to The Daily Mail about his audition process, saying that "I got cast early, because there was another movie I could do and I didn't want to wait and get to November to find I had no movie at all. I told them that and I eventually got it."

He also added that there will be some changes made from the iconic stage musical. "[Being sung through] is not going to work on film, so there's now dialogue and songs. Tom's take on the film is very exciting," he said.

Jackman 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. In 2009, Jackman took on the Oscar host as he fronted the 81st Annual Academy Awards.

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, and no casting has yet been officially announced by the movie's production team. Read the full Daily Mail article here.