The King’s Speech director and Oscar-winner Tom Hooper seems to have his hands full with his current adaptation of the classic novel Les Miserables. Anne Hathaway, Russell Crowe, Helena Bonham Carter and Hugh Jackman have all signed onto the project, but there are still imporant roles to cast. According to NY Post (via FirstShowing), Glee‘s Lea Michele, pop starlet Taylor Swift, Scarlett Johannson and Evan Rachel Wood are all contenders for the roles of Eponine and Cosette.
Crowe will play the fanatic police detective Javert, who is fixated on capturing criminal Jean Valjean, played by Jackman. Hathaway is the working class mother, Fantine, while Carter will play the role of Madame Thenardier. Geoffrey Rush is also rumored to play the part of Madame Thenardier’s husband (*an interesting twist considering Rush played Javert in the 1998 non-musical adaptation). Eponine is the daughter of the greedy Thenardiers, Cosette is the daughter of Fantine, adopted daughter of Valjean.
It’s obvious that the casting of both young women roles is a pivotal part of Les Miserables as a whole. I’m not a die hard fan of the musical, as some are, but I really can’t see Swift playing any part in the adaptation. Although she did attempt acting with her very small role in Valentine’s Day, I think casting someone with so little experience in such a big role would really put a damper on Hooper’s vision.
On the other hand, Michele has experience in both acting and singing on Glee and, perhaps more importantly, Broadway, which bodes well for her. It’d be the safest bet to see Johannson in one of the roles, ultimately because of her time in the music world and the fact that she’s a huge celebrity with the most acting experience out of the bunch.
Les Miserables is scheduled to open December 7th, 2012.
Who do you want to see play the roles of Eponine and Cosette?