LES MISERABLES - THE MOTION PICTURE is finally back on track!

[CapnHook]

For anyone you may have actually been reading the credits during tonight's screening of LES MISERABLES' 25th Anniversary Concert, you would have noticed that a large note read something to the effect of "Coming Soon to a theater near you: LES MISERABLES - THE MOTION PICTURE."

For those who know my history with movie musicals, what I am about to say comes from the same sources as did the information from my former website:

Two pieces of information are being revealed about the plans for the film this time around: 1) It will probably be released Thanksgiving 2012; and 2), It is intended to star mostly unknowns, with the exception of 4 roles.

If all the agreements with Mackintosh and Universal go without any hitches, production of the film should begin very soon.

Personally, I've been holding my breath since 2003 when they last "really" planned on doing the film. This time...I'd keep my eye on Variety if I were you...

[adamgreer]

I saw that, too, during the credits.

My favorite part was that it indicated, "Les Miserables- WORKING TITLE."

Ummm, what else are they possibly going to call it?

[wonderwaiter]

I've been holding my breathe since the early 90s, but at this point I'm not even sure I WANT it to happen.

[Jude-n-Sue]

Isn't Working Title a British film production company?

[Chrranke]

Yes, Working Title is the name of the production company. They have made lots of great movies such as Bridget jones, Love Actually, Notting Hill, Four Weddings and a funural. All those movies starred Hugh Grant so Im guessing this will as well

[adamgreer]

Well that actually makes a lot more sense, though it's not nearly as amusing as my theory!

[Mister Matt]

I'll believe it when I see it on screen. I just hope it's not another Phantom of the Opera or Rent.

[Adam Chris]

I have that same 1992 film advertisment in a Les Miserables program. I just noticed it said an Alan Parker film. Oh, that would have been awful. He's the guy who gave us the film version of EVITA.

[husk_charmer]

^ I do too! I trot it out occasionally to laugh at it.

[ClapYo'Hands]

"I just hope it's not another Phantom of the Opera or Rent."

I love both of those movies xD

I really, really don't want this to happen, and I am a HUGE Les Misérables fan. I think if it did though, there would be a good chance Ramin Karimloo would be in it (Even though he's too old already). I don't know why, I just do...

[AwesomeDanny]

I don't want to threadjack, but...

Mister Matt, I don't know the general consensus about the Phantom film, but I personally find it superior to the stage version. I don't love the actors playing Phantom and Christine, but it did so much to clear up the plot. I also think the movie is a lot scarier and more intense. Raul also feels more important in the movie. That said, I have to agree with you about Rent.

[themysteriousgrowl]

See, I find that to be a very strange opinion (even though I also think PHANTOM the show is a p.o.s.), but we all have our things. For the life of me, I'll never understand the rip-snorthing hate for Parker's "Evita."

[Muhlethaler]

Alan Parker is a brilliant filmmaker who gave us many great films and musicals. I love the movie version of Evita. It's big and loud as it should be. Les Mis would benefit from a director with Alan Parker's vision, knowlegde of music and visual flair.

[Chrranke]

I really liked evita. the only thing bad was Madonna Even Lloyd Webber thinks it would have been great if a proper singer would have done it. but it was her or no movie.

[Cape Twirl of Doom]

I don't love the actors playing Phantom and Christine, but it did so much to clear up the plot.

PHANTOM has a confusing plot? I've read a lot of criticisms from people who don't like the show, but being confused by the story, that's a new one!

[Colle]

I know a movie has been thought/talked out for a long while, so I am not getting excited yet until we get more details. I do wonder which roles are going to go to well known actors, probably Valjean and Javert.

[Borstalboy]

No.

[lotiloti]

Don't forget, he also gave us Bugsy Malone, Pink Floyd The Wall,
The Commitments & Fame.

[AwesomeDanny]

Cape Twirl of Doom, isn't it a common complaint that Phantom is hard to follow? Maybe I should have phrased it differently in my original post, but I know that I'm not the first person to complain about the 1988 stage production of Phantom being difficult to follow. The movie is hard not to follow. Also, the Phantom's backstory allowed my to sympathize with him, making the ending more believable. Without that, I just wonder why Christine so passionately kisses the man who kidnapped her.

[jimmycurry01]

I have never heard anyone else say that they found Phantom hard to follow. I always simply assumed she kissed the man that kidnapped her in order to save the man she loved. She was given an ultimatum, and she made her choice. The movie does present the relationship a bit differently, suddenly the phantom and Raoul become an allegory for romantic love and sexual lust respectively, but even then the ultimatum is the same.

I love Alan Parker's Evita, it is a big beautiful film. I also enjoyed Madonna in it. It is true her voice lacks the strength of any stage Evita, but that also meant that a lot of the high harmonies between Eva and Che got cut, I hate hearing those harmonies, so to me that was a good thing. Alan Parker definitely knows how to make a musical, though I doubt he'd still be attached to this.

We'll see if this movie actually gets off the ground, it has been in talks for so long, but it seems doomed to be in development hell forever.

[ClapYo'Hands]

I like the Evita movie. I put off watching it for ages, because I thought i'd hate it. But the movie itself was fantastic. Madonna didn't give the best performance, we know, but Johnathan Pryce have the best performance in that film.

I thought Alan Parker made it really well, although I do think it looks dated now.

Also, how funny would Patti have been as Eva's mother?

[themysteriousgrowl]

I'm curious how you think it looks dated?

OMG Jonathan Pryce yes yes yes indeed.

[ILOHTFAHA (Aida Man)]

I'm assuming the three of the four roles that are going to go to big stars are Valjean, Javert and Fantine.

[jasonf]

Justin Beiber for Enjolras!

Just strap me to the barricade now.

[darquegk]

And Thenardier- callin' it now. The easiest role to sing is also the funniest/scariest. Any of those Uncanny Valley comedian/tragedians will want their hands on Thenardier- the Robin Williamses, Jim Carreys, Johnny Depps, or any of those actors who seem to pass seamlessly from comedy into squick drama.

[sabrelady]

"Also, how funny would Patti have been as Eva's mother?"

Only if Patti was allowed to channel the Mother from Carrie!

"i'm just doing an after the fact abortion doll, kinda like your singing!!!"