More possible Les Mis cast news

Apparently, there's even more speculation swirling around about more cast members that could possibly be in the new Les Miserables movie musical that should be coming out sometime in 2012 or 2013. As of right now, we know that Hugh Jackman is going to be Valjean, and that Paul Bettany and Russell Crowe seem to be front-runners for Javert. But who are these new people?

There are a few. But, as a disclaimer, this is all speculation. Nothing is set in stone as of right now.

Anyway. First up, we have rumors of Geoffrey Rush as Thenardier. Captian Barbossa himself. Also, Rush was also in The King's Speach, the last movie that Les Mis director Tom Hooper directed, so I suppose that this kind of makes sense. Also, of course, Rush played Javert in the 1997 Les Miserables movie. Which... let's be honest, wasn't well-received by some fans. But oh, well. I think that he could possibly do well as Thenardier.

... I think I can kind of see it. But, I also think that as of right now, he's super gray and without those curly locks. So... whatever.

Next up on the list is Helena Bonham Carter for Madame Thenardier. Most of the time, I love Helena. And I think that she could do a good job as Mme Thenardier. As most people should know, she can definitely pull off the crazy, evil side that Mme Thenardier should have. And yeah, yeah, I know... usually, most people picture/portray Mme Thenardier has heavy-set... but does she really have to be? Personally, I don't think so, especially when it's Helena playing the part.

Now for Fantine. Three names apparently being tossed around as possible Fantines are Amy Adams, Rebecca Hall, and Anne Hathaway. Personally... I'm a no-go for Amy. Yeah, she's done singing movies such as Enchanted (which, let's be honest... isn't quite Les Mis-ish), but I just don't see her as Fantine. She's too... sunny, I guess? For lack of a better word. Maybe that's just Enchanted getting to me though. Also, with Anne, sure she can sing, but does she really have a voice for Fantine? In my opinion, no. Based on looks alone, I think I'd prefer Rebecca.

Finally, we have Cosette/Eponine. And there are quite a few names being thrown around for these two, which makes me wonder if they really are that - just names being thrown around. But anyway. The names that have been listed are Hayden Panettiere, Miranda Cosgrove, Lucy Hale, and Emma Watson.

I know that nobody's actually going to ask me, but if they did, Hayden and Miranda would be thrown out from the get-go. I know it's a bit... prejudiced, I guess, but Hayden just irritates me whenever she's on the screen. Maybe it's because of her being Claire in Heroes, I have no idea. But I just don't like watching her. As for Miranda, she's a Disney kid. I mean, I guess they could put her in there... but didn't they learn their lesson from Nick Jonas?

So we're left with Lucy and Emma. I haven't personally seen much of Lucy's work, so I can't really compare. As for Emma, I think that she might be fine too. I suppose. I don't know, though. I'm on the fence for both of them.

And, that's about it. Like I said before, these names are all just speculated. There may even turn out to be no fact at all for some of them, only rumor that somebody threw in for fun. But whatever, I guess that we'll see. Obviously, this movie is probably going to be very Hollywood, and not quite as musical-theatre-only as some people hoped. But, come on... let's just be happy that we're getting a movie, right? As long as it's not completely butchered, I think that I'll be happy.

And as long as they keep the Disney kids out of it.

Les Mis Movie: Russell Crowe as possible Javert?

There's another contender for the new Les Mis movie that's in the works: Russell Crowe. Apparently, the actor is very "keen" on the idea of playing Javert.

Could this work? I haven't heard Russell Crowe sing before, so I can't really judge him on that. Based on looks alone? Hmm... let's compare him with the other speculated Javert front-runner, Paul Bettany.

Ah... I still don't know. Crowe is darker (i.e. not super-white like Bettany), like Javert is "supposed" to be, but in some Bettany photos he has this really fantastically intense look about him... so, yeah, I don't know. This one I'm just really on the fence about both ways.

But... take a look at this shot of Russell Crowe, from the movie Master and Commander (which, ironically, Paul Bettany is also in).

Remind you of anybody? No? Come one, just think about it... think about it some more...

Alright. Does this jog your memory a bit?

RUSSELL CROWE HAS THE ABILITY TO LOOK A LITTLE BIT LIKE FREAKING PHILIP QUAST.

Sigh. Just give me a second to get over that. Okay, I'm good now.

Maybe it's just me. But I see a similarity there. And it's freaking awesome.

Anyway. From what I heard, however, director Tom Hooper really wants Bettany in the Javert role. He probably has a better chance of  getting it than Russell Crowe does.

Of course, all of this possible-Javert-casting is just speculation. Nothing has been set in stone, and all of this is simply what I heard on the grapevine.

Something has been confirmed though, and that's the fact that Hugh Jackman will be in the movie, as confirmed by his rep. However, when asked about what role Jackman would actually be playing, the spokesperson only said, "I think Valjean." So, there's a possibility that he could be playing someone else... but, personally, I'm sure that he's going to be playing Valjean.
Something else that's (kind of) been confirmed? The movie will have spoken dialogue mixed in, unlike the musical, which is sung through. I'm totally fine with that. I mean, turning a theatre musical into a motion picture is going to require some changes.

I've also heard that the movie will probably start filming around February, once Hugh Jackman is done with the movie he's currently working on, The Wolverine.

February. That's in less than a year. OH MY GOODNESS.

They better cast this freaking movie soon, before I go insane.

Hugh Jackman confirmed for Les Mis movie?

Alright. So it hasn't officially been announced by the Les Mis people yet, but Hugh Jackman pretty much confirmed it himself.

Hugh was interviewed on a Toronto radio station (98.1 CHFI). They talked about a bunch of things, but about half way/two-thirds of the way in, they start talking about his musical theatre career, and then what other types of projects he would love to do. Hugh says this:

" So, I would love to do one of those [a movie-musical] one day. And, it looks like that's coming through 'cause I'm going to do Les Miserables, the movie version of it, next year. "

So... yeah. I'm assuming that that means that Hugh Jackman is officially going to be Jean Valjean in the movie-musical version of Les Miserables. Which is great. (: In a perfect world, I would have loved for Alfie Boe to have been cast in the role, since Cameron Mackintosh was supposedly interested in him for it in the beginning. But that's just the fangirl in me. (: I think that Hugh will be fantastic as well. At least he has some previous musical theatre experience! (: And he can sing. Does he necessarily have a voice for Valjean? Probably, otherwise why would he have been cast? Plus, he has the star power that may just get the general public to go out and see this movie.

"24601!"

Can you see it? I'm starting to. (:

Yep. I think that I'm slowly becoming more and more excited about this. (: As if I already wasn't. (;

Anyway. If you're interested, you can listen to the whole interview right here. (:

Hugh Jackman can sing?!

I was not very aware of the fact that Hugh Jackman sings until a few days ago, when I saw him on the Tony Awards. He performed this hillarious song with Neil Patrick Harris (who I adore), and I was like, "Woah. That's cool." After that, I didn't think too much of it. And then I saw this headline on Google:

Hugh Jackman & Paul Bettany Could Square Off In ‘Les Miserables’

Which obviously peaked my interest. There's a Les Miserables movie-musical in the works right now, but there hasn't been much word about it since the director (The King's Speach's Tom Hooper) was announced in March. Until now. Apparently, the director really wants Hugh Jackman in the movie. As of right now (according to the article I read), he's already working out a deal with film makers. And what role is Jackman possibly going to play? None other than Jean Valjean. (:

Now, I think I'm kind of on the fence about this, but at the same time I kind of approve. Then again, no film maker is ever going to ask my opinion about this, so I guess it doesn't matter. But still. I think Hugh Jackman could maybe pull it off, from what I've heard of him. Then again, I haven't heard much. So, he could rock at Valjean, or he could bomb at Valjean. I have no idea. (: But, nonetheless, he can sing.

As for the Paul Bettany fellow, the only of movies that he's in that I've seen are A Beautiful Mind and The Secret Life of Bees. I loved him as Charles Herman in A Beautiful Mind. He's also been in A Knight's Tale, The Da Vinci Code, and The Tourist, among many others.

As for his musical history, I don't know anything about that.Which kind of concerns me. I mean, he could possibly be playing Javert. Obviously, I'm a bit attached when it comes to who plays that role. I guess we'll just have to wait and see.

Of course, none of this is confirmed or set in stone. This is just what's being speculated right now.

A lot of fans are angry because they want real musical theatre people to be in this movie, not popular Hollywood actors (for the record, Hugh Jackman could be considered both). In my opinion, they can't have all musical theatre actors. This movie does need a bit of talented star power for the general public to at least go see it. I think that they need to have a healthy mix of both (as long as Hollywood can sing).

As of right now, I don't really have any prefered actors to make up the cast. I've decided that I like Hugh Jackman for Valjean. I'm still on the fence about Bettany as Javert, because I haven't heard him sing and I'm not too familiar with him. Other than that, I have no idea who should be anybody else.

... Except for one. (:

Ramin Karimloo as Enjolras? Pretty please? (: