EXCLUSIVE: Anne Hathaway Set as 'Fantine' for LES MISERABLES Film?

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Anne Hathaway was last associated with LES MISERABLES when she belted out her own version of "Own My Own" at February's Oscar ceremony to past host Hugh Jackman. Now, BroadwayWorld.com's reliable sources tell us that at Jackman's pushing, she is now set to take on the role of Fantine in the eagerly anticipated film version of the epic musical.

In addition to hosting this year's Oscars and being set to appear in the upcoming Batman: The Dark Night sequel, Anne Hathaway's film credits include 'The Princess Diaries,' 'Brokeback Mountain,' 'The Devil Wears Prada,' 'Becoming Jane,' 'Alice in Wonderland,' and 'Rachel Getting Married,' for which she was nominated for an Academy Award. Hathaway played Viola in Shakespeare in the Park's 2009 production of TWELFTH NIGHT. She also appeared as Lili in CARNIVAL! at Encores, and was in some of the workshops for last season's PROMISES, PROMISES.

Last week, Hollywood site Deadline.com reported that filming for Woverine 2, the sequel to the successful X Men franchise starring Hugh Jackman, may be pushed back to the spring of 2012 due to location scouting issues. This means that Jackman will shoot the Les Miserables film, in which he'll be playing Jean Valjean, first, beginning in February of 2012. The film will be shot in the UK.

According to www.itsonthegrid.com, additional actors being courted for the film have included Russell Crowe for Javert, Geoffrey Rush for Thenardier, Helena Bonaham Carter for Madame Thenardier, Hayden Panettiere, M iranda Cosgrove, Lucy Hale, and Emma Watson for the roles of Eponine and Cosette, and Amy Adams and Rebecca Hall for Fantine.

Jackman has previously revealed that the new film interpretation will have songs in addition to dialogue to accommodate the medium.

Les Miserables 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.

Photo Credit: Walter McBride/WM Photos