It seems that that the French Revolution in the film version of Les Miserables is becoming a slightly Australian affair with news that Russel Crowe will be joining fellow Australian Hugh Jackman.
It seems that that the French Revolution in the film version of Les Miserables is becoming a slightly Australian affair with news that Russel Crowe will be joining fellow Australian Hugh Jackman (pictured). The film version of Les Miserables, based on the long running Boublil and Schonberg musical of the same name, is the story of newly paroled prisoner Jean Valjean and his struggle to survive during the French revolution. The film is being directed by Tom Hooper and co-produced by Sir Cameron Mackintosh, who produced the first English stage production of the show which opened in London in 1985. Jackman has been cast in the role of Valjean and it has been recently been announced that the man cast as Jackman’s on-screen rival will be Russel Crowe. Crowe will be playing the role of Inspector Javert, the man who purses Valjean to bring him to justice. Another announcement in casting is that Helena Bonham Carter, who worked with director Tom Hooper on The King’s Speech. Bonham Carter is to play Madame Thénardier the wife of Thénardier, a second rate thief who runs an inn. Bonham Carter has starred in a string of films, often working with her domestic partner Tim Burton, including 2007’s movie musical hit Sweeny Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street, playing the sinister pie shop owner Mrs Lovett. The actor in talks to play Bonham Carter devious husband Thénardier is another Australian, Geoffrey Rush. If Rush is indeed cast, this will be the second time he has stared in a film version of Les Miserables, having played Inspector Javert opposite Liam Neeson’s Jean Valjean in the 1997 release. Another actor in talks to star in the movie musical is Anne Hathaway. Hathaway is rumoured to be in talks to play Fantine, a factory worker and mother of her illegitimate chile Cossette. The character Fantine has several musical numbers in the stage production including “I Dream a Dream”, a song which regained popularity in the general public through Britain’s Got Talent contestant, Susan Boyle. Les Miserables is set for release in the United States in December 2012 with an Australian release date yet to be announced. The film is directed by Tom Hooper based on a screenplay by William Nicholson, produced by Tim Bevan, Eric Fellner and Cameron Mackintosh.