After decades in development, a film of the Les Miserables musical is finally coming together with King’s Speech helmer Tom Hopper directing and Hugh Jackman starring as Jean Valjean. However, Jackman’s character needs a nemesis – Javert – who spends years trying to hunt escaped prisoner Valjean.
There were rumours Paul Bettany might get the role, but now Deadline reports that Rusell Crowe has landed the part. Although Crowe can be very annoying, he’s actually a very good choice for Javert, who’s a gruff, single-minded character who needs the gravity Russell can bring.
Producer Cameron Mackintosh commented, Even though I have dreamt about making the film of Les Miserables for over 25 years, I could never have imagined that we would end up with the dream director Tom Hooper, and the dream cast of Hugh Jackman and Russell Crowe as the two great protagonists Jean Valjean and Javert. Not only were they born to play these roles vocally, but they thrillingly inhabit this great score. Producing this film with Eric Fellner, Working Title and Universal Pictures is indeed a dream come true and I cant wait to hear the people sing at my local cineplex.
The movie will go into production later this year, with Jackman fitting it in before he goes to work on Wolverine next February. Universal has also set a release date, with plans to bring it out on December 7th, 2012, just in time for an Oscar run.
Now the only question is whether they’ll get Susan Boyle in to sing I Dreamed A Dream.